On Wednesday, October 10, Quran-burner pastor Terry Jones pursued his plan to protest his thoughts and beliefs on Muslim gang bullying on the sidewalks of Edsel Ford High School. He was accompanied by his son and wife and a few of his followers from his church. Facing toward the street of Rotunda, Jones’ supporters held up signs protesting their beliefs against the Islamic religion.
In preparation of Jones’ visit, Dearborn Police Department flooded the streets of Rotunda and Pelham in order to prevent conflict between the public and Jones. For maximum precaution, they restricted all citizens and students who did not have legitimate identification as a student or faculty member of the high school and the church where a few of the media vans and employees were parked at. All media personnel followed Jones up and down the block and around the corner onto Pelham leading to the teacher’s parking lot.
When Pastor Jones first arrived at Edsel Ford High School, accompanied by Assistant Pastor Wayne Happ, he had with him a .45 caliber semi-automatic hand-gun. Policed asked Jones to leave the gun in his car and he abided.
Down the street from where Jones was talking to the press, a gathering of approximately 10 people from the extreme group BAMN, By Any Means Necessary, protested against Jones.
Dearborn Citizen, Nicole Bruesch, took Jones’ side by saying her daughter, who attends Edsel Ford High School as a Junior, was bullied by Muslim students during her years at O.L Smith Middle School in Dearborn.
There were many citizens driving by Edsel Ford High school who saw Jones and made comments against him and repeatedly honked their horns in anger.
Unlike past rallies by Jones’ church, this rally was not as hostile, but uneventful. No arrests were made.
Jones had intentions of speaking with the school principal but did not succeed.
“He has the legal right to be there and it’s unfortunate that people can’t just ignore him,” says an Edsel Ford High School faculty member.
Considering Terry Jones’ reason of visiting Dearborn a fourth time, the school’s spirits stay high.
“Edsel Ford High School is a place where positive things happen even when challenged by negative forces,” another EFHS faculty member commented. “Terry Jones is a negative force, but instead of retaliating with negativity, the community, administrators, law enforcement, staff and students ignored him and continued on with the business of educating. Therefore, without recognition, a man like Terry Jones loses power.”