Overview

• At the first council meeting since the exchange went viral, Mayor Abdullah Hammoud read a prepared statement, offered no apology, and accused the media of sensationalizing the incident.
• Ted Barham, the Christian minister told he was “not welcome,” said he will not file a lawsuit and urged forgiveness, repeating his message of “God bless you.”
• Several speakers pressed Hammoud to denounce Hamas and Hezbollah by name, while others voiced support for the mayor, and the meeting drew an overflow crowd.
• The dispute began after Wayne County installed an honorary Warren Avenue sign for Arab American News publisher Osama Siblani, whose past praise of Hezbollah and Hassan Nasrallah was cited by critics.
• Mayoral challenger Nagi Almudhegi condemned Hammoud’s remarks as inappropriate and warned they could fuel perceptions that Christians are unwelcome in the city.