A Republican candidate for governor in Michigan, Anthony Hudson, has announced plans to walk through Dearborn, a city known for its significant Muslim population. Hudson, who hails from Grand Blanc and is a trucker by profession, aims to “expose” the city through this initiative.
Hudson’s campaign extends beyond his gubernatorial ambitions to shining a spotlight on Dearborn, which holds the distinction of being the largest Arab-majority city in the United States. On November 18, Hudson and his supporters plan to stage a demonstration in Dearborn, a move he has publicized through various social media channels.
The 48-year-old candidate’s message to potential participants emphasizes that the walk is designed to show that the city’s residents “do not need to be scared or afraid to get together.” Hudson claims that the event will “expose Dearborn for what it is.”
In a post dated November 3, Hudson asserted, “Freedom of religion will not be misconstrued to oppress constitutional liberties.” His rhetoric suggests that the demonstration is also intended as a stand against what he perceives as the imposition of Sharia law, the Islamic legal system based on the Quran and the teachings of the Prophet Muhammad.
‘Freedom of religion will not be misconstrued to oppress constitutional liberties,’ Hudson posted on November 3.
The conservative said the event is also a way for him to help ‘protect Americans from Sharia law’ – the system that guides the lives of Muslims based on the Quran and teachings from the Prophet Muhammad.
The politician said the march is meant to be ‘peaceful,’ but noted that everyone has a ‘constitutional right to assemble.’
‘We’re not going to go block streets. We’re not going to be screaming religious… comments to people,’ he told The Detroit News.
Anthony Hudson, a trucker running for governor in Michigan, said he plans to walk through Dearborn to ‘expose it’
Dearborn is the largest Arab-majority city in the US and has sparked debate in the state in recent times. (Pictured: Arab-Americans march in the Detroit suburb)
‘We’re simply just walking to show people: One, we’re not afraid to go into any town or any community in the state; and (two) we’re trying to bring people together.’
If elected in November 2026, Hudson said he will authorize the National Guard to enter Dearborn, the hometown of Ford Motor Co.
‘So we can protect the people of Dearborn from Sharia law and all the c**p that’s happening there,’ he told the outlet.
The candidate’s comments come just weeks after five suspected terrorists were arrested in the Detroit suburb for allegedly planning a violent Halloween weekend attack.
The FBI Detroit previously confirmed to the Daily Mail that the agency raided three homes in Dearborn and Inkster.
Weapons including legally owned guns were recovered at the scene and sources described the suspects as home-grown radicals.
That instance pushed Hudson to speak up about his concern for the city that has a population of about 106,300, he explained.
Although he is unsure how many people will show up for the upcoming march, he is hopeful for a good turn out. The Daily Mail contacted Hudson for comment.
Hudson (pictured with conservative activist Riley Gaines) said the event is also a way for him to help ‘protect American from Sharia law’
The event comes just months after Dearborn Mayor Abdullah Hammoud faced backlash after he told a Christian resident he was ‘not welcome’ following a tense exchange over a road sign honoring a local who expressed support for Hamas.
Hammoud made the comment in September after Edward ‘Ted’ Barham told a City Council meeting that he opposed a road sign being erected at an intersection honoring Lebanese-American journalist Osama Siblani.
Siblani founded the Arab American News, the first bilingual Arab weekly paper in Dearborn. He’s previously come under fire for comments sympathetic to Hamas, calling the Palestinian group ‘freedom fighters.’
Barham said the sign was ‘provocative’ and accused Siblani of being a supporter of Hezbollah and Hamas, which are considered terrorist organizations by the US.
‘I feel like having that sign up there is almost like naming a street Hezbollah Street or Hamas Street,’ Barham argued.
‘Hezbollah bombed the embassy in Beirut, including many Americans. I just feel it’s quite inappropriate.’
The candidate’s comments come just weeks after five suspected terrorists were arrested in the Detroit suburb for allegedly planning a violent Halloween weekend attack
Members of the Middle Eastern community living in Dearborn hold a candlelight vigil on the anniversary October 7, 2023 terrorist attacks in Israel in 2024
‘He talks about how the blood of the martyrs irrigates the land of Palestine,’ Barham continued. He then quoted Siblani as saying: ‘Whether we are in Michigan and whether we are in Yemen.
‘Believe me, everyone should fight within his means. They will fight with stones, others will fight with guns, others fight with planes, drones, and rockets.’
Siblani had made the remarks during a Nakba Day rally in 2022. He clarified to the Daily Mail that the quote was a call for justice, not violence, and that he stood by his comments.
‘People have the right to fight occupation and oppression by all necessary means and it is justified and accepted under international law. I said here in America we fight with our words of support for free Palestine,’ Siblani said.
‘Mr. Barham, and people like him are blind and their racist minds prevent them from seeing the atrocities being committed by the Israeli government against Palestinians in Gaza. I see it and condemn it in the strongest terms.’.
