A routine town hall meeting in Dearborn, Michigan, turned volatile Tuesday when debate over Muslim influence in local civic life boiled over, with a local church pastor accusing city leaders of allowing Sharia law to take hold.
“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,” said Lorenzo Sewell, pastor of 180 Church.
“Enough is enough.”
The confrontation unfolded against the backdrop of several anti-Islam demonstrations in Dearborn, a city with one of the nation’s most prominent Arab and Muslim communities. Sewell’s remarks reflected broader concerns among some critics who claim Muslim residents in Michigan are seeking to shape public life around religious values they view as incompatible with mainstream American norms.
“You are only 1% of this nation. We are not a nation of Muslims,” Sewell said.
Despite Sewell’s claims, his references to Sharia law do not point to any known legislation aimed at embedding Islamic religious rules into Dearborn’s municipal code or Michigan law.
Rather, Sewell has framed the issue as what he considers unequal treatment under the banner of religious liberty, arguing that local authorities are extending protections to Muslims in ways he believes are not applied consistently to others.
Among the examples cited by Sewell and other critics in Dearborn is an incident involving Muslim counterprotesters who, in their view, faced insufficient consequences after allegedly assaulting local political activist Jake Lang.
“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 conducts 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 f—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.
In one video, Lang takes a punch from behind while holding a sign saying “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 said.
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 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 US census, a majority of 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,
