LANSING, Mich. (Michigan News Source) – In her latest episode of political pandering, Jocelyn Benson, Michigan’s Democratic Secretary of State who is also a 2026 gubernatorial candidate, chose to step in and defend Muslim demonstrators in Dearborn even after they reportedly turned violent toward Christians during a rally.

Tuesday’s events.

The scene unfolded on Tuesday, November 18. Anthony Hudson, a GOP gubernatorial candidate, organized the event. He billed it as a “unity” march and labeled Jan. 6 activist Jake Lang an “infiltrator.” The event drew both Christian and anti-Muslim supporters and a large group of pro-Muslim counter-protesters. Online videos show several clashes turning violent, with rally goers getting attacked by the counter-protesters. The unrest didn’t end there; the tension followed everyone into the Dearborn City Council meeting later that evening.

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At the city council meeting, journalist Cam Higby described how he was robbed of his money and microphone at the rally and said that pro-Muslim protesters smashed his phone. He told the council that the Dearborn police wouldn’t do anything at the rally to secure an arrest, telling him he’d have to go to the “station” to file a complaint. There were three arrests reported at the rally for exhibiting disorderly behavior and one arrest was made at City Hall according to Fox News.

In addition, Higby said on his X account that his life was threatened several times.

Lang also said he was attacked at the event and was further threatened at the city council meeting. News organizations such as CBS News, Detroit Free Press, MLive and others defended the attacks on the rally goers by reporting that they engaged in provocative acts like trying to burn the Quran. They also pointed to Lang’s antagonizing website which called for a “peaceful” event but described it as “Americans Against Islamification.”

Benson: “Hate has not place in our state.”

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In a statement on Wednesday, Benson painted the Christian rally goers and Lang supporters as the hateful ones. However, video clearly showing the aggression coming from the counter-protesters.

Benson said on X: “Hate has no place in our state. And when outside agitators come in to incite violence in Dearborn, threatening the safety and security of residents in one of Michigan’s most vibrant and diverse cities, they threaten all of us. I am grateful to law enforcement and Mayor Hammoud who worked during the chaos to protect the people of Dearborn – yesterday and every day. I stand with them as we work to unite Michigan with our shared values: ensuring our state is a safe place for all to raise a family, live, and thrive.”

Muslim Mayor Abdullah Hammoud – who in September told a Christian minister he wasn’t welcome in Dearborn – has already faced criticism for favoring one side of the city over another. Now Benson is drawing similar scrutiny. Instead of condemning the violence caught on camera, she chose to frame the Christian demonstrators as the real problem, raising the same concern many Michiganders had with Hammoud: that political favoritism may be guiding who gets praised and protected – and who gets lectured.