Calling on the United States to exert pressure on Israel to halt its bombings against Hezbollah fighters in Lebanon, hundreds of protesters demonstrated in Dearborn on Wednesday.
Both civilians and Hezbollah fighters have perished as a result of such airstrikes, including children. Henry Ford Centennial Library was the location of the group’s gathering.
“We stick together as people. We protect each other. And we’re here to raise our voices and hopefully be heard in a positive light,” Dearborn resident Habib Obeid stated.
As his parents did for him during the Lebanon conflict in 2006, Obeid brought his kids to the demonstration.
“As a Lebanese American, born and raised here in Dearborn, Michigan, we’re not against Americans. We stand with Lebanese people here today, we also stand with America. This isn’t a divide; we’re bringing people together to show them that we’re good people,” he stated.
The “Stand With Lebanon Rally” coincided with a spike in assaults between Hezbollah and Israel.
Shortly after another terrorist organization supported by Iran, Hamas, attacked Israel from Gaza on October 7, Hezbollah started shooting missiles toward Israel.
Israel, which has been at war with Hamas in Gaza since then, has been stepping up its military operations against locations in Lebanon that are affiliated with Hezbollah in recent days.
According to Lebanese officials, airstrikes during the last week have resulted in over 600 deaths, thousands of injuries, and thousands of displaced people.
Canton resident Amani Hachem said at the demonstration, “My grandma’s still there, my aunts, my uncles, my cousins. I have a ton of family members. They can’t leave, they can’t flee. My grandma sat 16 hours on the road the other day, trying to get out, but there’s no safe zones.”
According to Dearborn Mayor Abdullah Hammoud, many residents have lost friends and family in the past several days.
“People are absolutely devastated. They are watching in horror,” he stated. “To other Americans, they may see the images and videos emerge and can’t believe what they’re seeing before their eyes. But for us here in Dearborn, who have direct ties, who have immediate family and friends back in these places, the images and videos we see, these are our family and friends that are being buried on a daily basis. Who are being decimated and slaughtered, blown to smithereens.”
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According to Hammoud, their community wants to exert pressure on the American administration.
“What we’re calling for is accountability, for our government to stop the shipment of weapons and bombs that are being used to slaughter our family on a daily basis,” he stated.
Though many at the demonstration felt it was insufficient, the United States has urged Israel to concentrate on diplomacy rather than intensifying its conflict with Hezbollah. They demand an arms embargo on Israeli weapons and a cease-fire.
Reference: Hundreds rally in Dearborn, Michigan, in support of Lebanon
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