What started as a regularly scheduled town hall in Dearborn, Michigan, erupted into a flashpoint over the influence of Muslim culture in American civic life on Tuesday as the pastor of a local church accused the town of operating under Sharia law.
"America, we have lost this city. This is a city that is no longer up under American laws; we are up under Sharia law. We will not have it anymore," Lorenzo Sewell, the pastor of 180 Church, said.
"Enough is enough."
The outburst, which came amid a series of other anti-Islam protests in Dearborn, vocalizes fears that Muslim populations in Michigan are working to bring their communities more in line with their religious worldview — views Sewell believes are at odds with the vast majority of the country.
"You are only 1% of this nation. We are not a nation of Muslims," Sewell said.
Sewell’s references to an implementation of Sharia law don’t refer to actual legislation looking to codify Muslim religious practices. Instead, they’re based on what he sees as a form of favoritism that’s being applied unevenly to Muslims in the name of religious freedom.
In particular, Sewell and other Dearborn critics have pointed to a case where Muslim counterprotesters, in his view, suffered inadequate consequences for assaulting Jake Lang, a local political activist.
"You are not up under American law. You are up under Sharia law. That is the reason why you have made no arrests," Sewell said, referring to the incident.
Lang, the activist, is no stranger to brushes with the Muslim community in Dearborn.
He frames himself as a faith-based champion of American culture. In one video posted to X, Lang is seen conducting baptisms while wearing military-style garb and a bulletproof chest plate — an outfit he dons in a lot of his online content.
"I don’t know about you, but I am ready to load up CRUISE SHIPS with fu—ing AMERICAN GUNS & go and LIBERATE SPAIN from the Muslim hords. If the Democrats take power in 2028, I’ll be at the Southern Border laying these animals down by the HUNDREDS!!!!!" Lang wrote in another post, referring to a recent influx of immigrants to Spain.
But his online opposition turned into a real-world altercation earlier this month when Lang took his protest to the city’s Arbaeen March, an annual religious commemoration.
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In one video, Lang is seen taking a punch from behind while holding a sign "deport 100 million, save America." Muslim counterprotesters chased Lang back to his car and at least one tried to hit him with a rock.
"Detroit Crime News JUST released video of 3 BARBARIC Muslims picking up large rocks to STONE me to death!!! For preaching the NAME OF JESUS!!!" Lang wrote online.
Notably, the police did arrest one of the assailants and asked for help in identifying others who had engaged in unlawful behavior.
"One individual was arrested by Dearborn Police during the altercation and is currently held without bond as the Wayne County Prosecutor’s Office determines charges," a police press release of the incident read.
In Lang’s view — and in the view of Sewell — that isn’t enough.
Ahead of the Tuesday city council meeting, Lang, Sewell and other demonstrators announced plans to protest the gathering, pressing for the city to more seriously evaluate Muslim influence and the influence of Sharia law.
City officials have pushed back on characterizations that Muslims are being treated differently than other citizens of Dearborn.
"When people portray Dearborn as some place that has been overtaken by Muslims, they aren’t simply attacking our Muslim and Arab communities. They’re also trying to erase our Christian brothers and sisters who have contributed immeasurably to the city and folks of other faiths," Mayor Abdullah Hammoud said at the city council meeting on Tuesday.
"Ultimately, they’re attacking something much larger than any one faith or community. They are attacking the idea that all of us can belong to America at the same time."
According to the 2020 U.S. census, a majority of the Dearborn reported Middle Eastern or North African ancestry, making it the first American city to have a predominantly Arab population, at roughly 54.5% of its residents.
