Counter-protestors scare away Koran book burners

Photo by Rebecca Cook

By Charles Sercombe
An anti-Islamic group was late for their Koran burning event, and when they did arrive, they ended up fleeing before ever stepping out of their rented U-Haul.
Last Sunday, late afternoon, a group of outside counter-protestors assembled outside a mosque at Caniff and Jos. Campau, and spent hours chanting slogans while they waited for the organization Americans Against Islamification to appear, as threatened.
Chants included:“F—k Nazis,” “F—k MAGA,” and “Nazi racists go away,” among others.
Some also waved the Palestinian flag.
The Koran book burning was scheduled for 5 p.m., but it wasn’t until a few hours later when two men, driving a U-Haul truck that was also towing a trailer, showed up.
That’s when counter-protestors swiftly gathered around the vehicle, exchanging profanities and banging on the side of the U-Haul truck being driven by the anti-Islamists.
One counter-protestor carried what looked like an assault rifle. Open carry in Michigan is legal.
A heavy police presence from Hamtramck and other agencies quickly swarmed around the protestors to try to prevent an escalation in violence.
When the anti-Islamists sped away, a group of youths and others chased after the vehicle, but not before the anti-Islamists yelled “F—k you” to the counter protestors.
The two anti-Islamists, including driver Jake Lang (a well-known agitator who has been stirring up anti-Islamic rhetoric in the metro area and elsewhere in the country), were later arrested by Dearborn police.
Lang was pulled over and cited for using a cellphone while driving. He was also cited for driving the rental vehicle while not having permission to do so from the rental company.
Lang was arrested for possession of psychedelic mushrooms. He denied they belonged to him, instead saying they belonged to his passenger, Jayden Scott, the organizer of the book-burning event.
Scott was also arrested for being wanted on a warrant.
After the pair released, Lang still attempted to burn Korans in Dearborn, but police officers quickly shut them down.
Both Hamtramck and Dearborn have majority-Muslim populations.
Former mayor Amer Ghalib credited the community for standing up against the anti-Islamic group.
“These uncivilized creatures are like the opportunistic parasites. They can only thrive on hate, division, hostility, and provoking conflict within communities,” Ghalib said, in a social media post.
Posted May 15, 2026