CAAO Meeting to Discuss Terry Jones Revisit

By: Duifaf Waely

Wednesday April 27, 2011

The Congress of Arab American Organization (CAAO) held a brief meeting on Wednesday, April 27, 2011 to discuss Pastor Terry Jones revisitation to Dearborn on Thursday and planned demonstration in front of Dearborn City Hall on Friday. Some of the attendees included Dearborn police Chief Ronald Haddad, ADC regional director Imad Hamad, IHRN founder Said Al-Waely, and CAAO spokesperson Osama Siblani. During the meeting, deliberations about the return of Terry Jones were discussed along with the community’s respond and ways to maintain peace and order during the controversial demonstration. Dearborn police Chief Ronald Haddad stated that the only planned police activity will be at Dearborn’s City Hall. The Islamic center will be monitored lest something was to happen but no official police presence will be there. Community leaders also stressed total avoidance of Michigan Avenue on Friday afternoon between 5 to 8 p.m. to allow Mr. Jones to exercise his Constitutional right of free speech, despite the message it might contain. They also called upon community members to simply ignore Terry Jones and the message that he has come to spread.