Pastor Terry Jones (again)
The "Quran Burner" of Gainesville, Florida is trying to get back in the spotlight one more time. Terry Jones, a self-styled preacher for a church of about 30 folks down in Florida went to Detroit this time in an attempt to get his face on camera again.
Jones once had the center stage for internation news last year while trying to establish "Burn A Quran" day.
After railing at Dearborn City Hall against Muslims and African-Americans, Quran-burning Pastor Terry Jones and his supporters were thwarted today in their plans to speak out some more at a nearby Arab festival after a few angry protesters confronted him.
"Dearborn has made it clear: racist bigots aren't welcomed here," shouted protesters who surrounded Jones as he tried to walk up Schaefer Avenue near City Hall. Earlier, Jones had led a rally against Islam, where pastors and a rabbi spoke about what they claim is a threat of Islam in U.S.
Jones sported sunglasses, a bulletproof vest, and a T-shirt that read: "Everything I ever needed to know about Islam I learned on 9-11."
He tried to walk the two miles to the Arab festival, but had to keep changing directions as protesters, mostly with the group By Any Means Necessary -- blocked his path.
After a few minutes of scuffling, Dearborn police swarmed in to whisk Jones and his assistant pastor, Wayne Sapp, into a police car. Jones did not speak at the Arab festival as planned.
Police arrested six counter-protesters, ages 18 to 22, Dearborn Police Chief Ron Haddad said. Five of the six arrested were not from Dearborn, he said, and city life proceeded as normal despite the rally.
"We kept Michigan Avenue open," Haddad said. "That's very important...No one knew he was here."
Compared to a similar rally Jones held in April at City Hall, this one attracted markedly fewer supporters and counter-demonstrators. There were about 15 Jones supporters, one of them holding up a U.S. flag, while wearing a belt buckle shaped like a human skull.
Matthew Keller, 78, a Dearborn resident who supports Jones, carried a U.S. flag and wore a T-shirt that said: "Islam is of the Devil"
Keller said he has Muslim neighbors, but is concerned about Islam.
"They got to be put under control," Keller said. "I'm a patriot. I'm a Christian. I believe in Jesus Christ above everything."
Jones announced a new plan to target Muslim-heavy communities across the U.S., including neighborhoods in Chicago where the Nation of Islam has a presence. He said he would be back in Dearborn.
Rabbi Nachum Shifren of California launched more anti-Muslim invective.
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