(AP) An op-ed piece that dubbed a Detroit suburb “America’s jihad capital” is being condemned by two Democratic state lawmakers, who described it as “racist and Islamophobic” in a resolution presented Tuesday.
Introduced by state Rep. Alabas Farhat and House Floor Leader Abraham Aiyash, the measure calls on the Wall Street Journal to retract the piece, which was published Friday, and issue a public apology to the city of Dearborn. Officials said they increased police presence in the city after the op-ed appeared.
“It was a pathetic excuse for an editorial piece,” said Farhat, who represents Dearborn. “It fanned the flames of hatred and division in our country during a time when hate crimes are on the rise. It makes it so that it’s normal to question how patriotic your neighbor is.”
