Officials have cancelled the popular Arab International Festival in Dearborn this year because of aggressive proselytizing by so-called Christian missionaries.
The preaching and provocation -- one brought a pig's head to last year's festival -- sparked tensions with local Muslims. Some Christian groups sued the city after police intervened. Quran-burning Pastor Terry Jones of Florida said he'd attend this year's June 14-17 festival in Ford Woods Park with the California man who brought the pig’s head last year.
The announcement left many disappointed that a small number of aggressive extremists could ruin what had become a tradition in the eastern section of Dearborn, which has a significant number of Arab Americans, Niraj Warikoo reports in the Free Press.
The city and organizers were facing increased insurance and liability costs because of the tensions and lawsuits over the festival. Last month, the City of Dearborn had proposed moving the festival to a park instead of the traditional location on Warren Avenue in order to decrease conflict.
