Dearborn's mayor spoke publicly Tuesday for the first time since criticism for telling a resident he wasn't welcome in the city went viral, saying Dearborn represents "the best of America."

Mayor Abdullah Hammoud's remarks Sept. 9 to resident Ted Barham, which have since been viewed thousands of times on social media, came after Barham criticized a decision by Wayne County to ceremonially name Warren Avenue at Chase Road after longtime Arab American leader Osama Siblani. Siblani, 70, founded the Arab American News in 1984.

Hammoud accused Barham at that meeting of being a bigot and Islamophobe, saying Barham has posted offensive content about Muslims on social media.

Barham, who is Christian, said Siblani was a supporter of Hezbollah and Hamas, which have been designated terrorist orga

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