An International Al-Quds Day Rally in Dearborn, Michigan, made headlines recently over “Death to America!” and "Death to Israel!" chants that broke out among protesters. Speakers at the rally made just as alarming comments about the country in which they live, which prompted criticism far and wide. Dearborn’s mayor condemned the statements, saying they do “not reflect the opinion of the members of this community,” though some questioned his sincerity. On the right, Fox News’s Greg Gutfeld said such refrains are heard in areas that have been “sacrificed to leftism.”
But one notable voice that had been missing from the debate over Dearborn was Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer, and Republicans in the state were quick to call her out over it.
Gov. Whitmer may be celebrating the Day of No Silence today, but she's been celebrating a whole WEEK of silence by refusing to condemn the "Death to America" rally held in our state. https://t.co/WphQdDZ4sl
— MI Senate Republicans (@MISenate) April 12, 2024
Even the Biden administration condemned the “abhorrent…remarks” before Whitmer did. And as Guy noted, both were much quicker to respond to a Wall Street Journal op-ed calling the city "America's Jihad Capital."
A few months ago, President Biden & Gov. Whitmer indignantly condemned a WSJ op/ed calling Dearborn, MI, "America's Jihad Capital."
— Guy Benson (@guypbenson) April 9, 2024
A few days ago, participants in a pro-Jihad rally in Dearborn chanted "death to America" in Arabic.
Have we heard anything from Biden or Whitmer? pic.twitter.com/jjDU3aw6HJ
By Sunday, the governor finally issued a statement to Fox News Digital.
"This hateful rhetoric is unacceptable, and does not represent Michigan or Dearborn," the Democrat said. "The Dearborn community is full of hardworking, proud Americans. Our state is diverse and we are proud of it."
Why did that take so long?