Controversial Pastor Wants To Demonstrate Against Islam In Dearborn On Good Friday

Florida pastor Terry Jones, who has gained notoriety for placing the Qur'an on trial and burning a copy in his small Florida church (see prior posting), is planning to hold a Good Friday demonstration in front of Dearborn, Michigan's Islamic Center of America. Police fear that the demonstration will cause a riot, and say that Jones and an associate will both be carrying guns. Police fear Jones will burn another Qur'an at his demonstration, though Jones denies this and says he will merely be demonstrating against Sharia and extremist Islam. According to the Detroit News, Michigan prosecutors want Jones to post a bond before the demonstration, and to pay the projected $100,000 in extra police overtime costs that will be incurred because of the demonstration.  A state court judge has set a hearing for 3:00 p.m. on Thursday. Meanwhile, Dearborn Mayor Jack O'Reilly has written a powerful open letter to Jones (full text) asking him to hold his demonstration at the city's "Permit Free Zone" in front of City Hall.  The mayor says that if Jones instead demonstrates in front of the Islamic Center, he will also be blocking access to Good Friday services at four nearby Christian churches.