10,000 Dearborn Citizens Rally in Support of Lebanon

July 18, 2006

Source: Detroit Free Press

http://www.freep.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20060718/NEWS99/60718005/-1/BUSINESS07

On July 18, 2006 the Detroit Free Press reported, "Carrying banners saying 'Stop Israeli Terrorism' and chanting antiwar slogans, some 10,000 people rallied in the center of metro Detroit's Arab-American community in Dearborn on Tuesday, demanding that the U.S. government put pressure on Israel to halt attacks in Lebanon. Although the protesters were peaceful, their message was strong, representing a profound difference of opinion between two of metro Detroit's most vital communities. Arab-American marchers carried signs saying 'Down, down Israel' and chanted, 'One, two, three, four. Stop the bombing. Stop the War.' Meanwhile, members of the Jewish community — who have a rally scheduled for 7 tonight at Congregation Shaarey Zedek in Southfield — have repeatedly said that Israel's air strikes on Lebanese targets have been intended to protect Israel from the militant group Hizballah, which is strong in southern Lebanon. Hizballah also has sent rockets and bombs into northern Israel. Israel's attacks on Lebanon began about a week ago after Hizballah guerrillas attacked a patrol on the border in northern Israel and captured two soldiers. As many as 226 people have been killed in Lebanon. About 25 have been killed in Israel. Police estimated the crowd in Dearborn at more than 10,000. Protesters, some draped in the Lebanese flag, marched to Hemlock Park. There, speakers shouted their message to crowds in hopes of getting the Bush administration's attention."