Swing state mayor sued as city’s Muslim holiday displays ignite religious-favoritism fight

Foxnews ^ | 09/18/2026

[devane617]

A federal lawsuit filed Thursday alleges the city of Dearborn spent thousands of taxpayer dollars on public displays celebrating Muslim holidays while ignoring a Christian resident’s repeated requests for Easter and Passover recognition.

Margot Cleveland, a journalist with The Federalist, filed a civil rights lawsuit with the American Freedom Law Center (AFLC) against the city of Dearborn and Democratic Mayor Abdullah Hammoud, alleging the city violated her First and Fourteenth Amendment rights, including protections involving religious establishment, free speech and equal protection.

"The City of Dearborn spent taxpayer money to light up its streets and parks for Ramadan while stonewalling a resident who simply asked that Easter, Passover, and other Christian and Jewish holy days be treated the same way," Robert J. Muise, AFLC co-founder and senior counsel, said in a statement. "That is a straightforward Establishment Clause violation, and the retaliation our client faced for speaking up about it only compounds the constitutional harm."

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TOPICS: Culture/Society; News/Current Events
KEYWORDS: dearborn; dearbornistan; religion

[devane617]

It's coming folks.

[BenLurkin]

[Rummyfan]

"The City of Dearborn spent taxpayer money to light up its streets and parks for Ramadan while stonewalling a resident who simply asked that Easter, Passover, and other Christian and Jewish holy days be treated the same way," Robert J. Muise, AFLC co-founder and senior counsel, said in a statement. "That is a straightforward Establishment Clause violation, and the retaliation our client faced for speaking up about it only compounds the constitutional harm."

Fight them!

[simpson96]

Forget it, Margot. It’s Dearbornistan.

[gibsonguy]

For many years Dearborn had one of the best Christmas decoration displays in the state if not the country. People would drive to see it. We have lost so much it is depressing. Now you have to be of a certain age to even know this. Thank you rats and losers like Bush.