Dearborn Mayor Suppressing Publication of Article on Henry Ford's Anti-Semitism

[Lowell]

From DeadlineDetroit...

A cover story on Henry Ford’s anti-Semitism, tied to the 100-year anniversary of Ford’s purchase of a weekly newspaper in Dearborn to serve as an amplifier for his beliefs, has apparently prompted Mayor John B. “Jack” O’Reilly to order that the issue not be mailed to its subscribers.[[The story was posted on Deadline Detroit last Friday.)


O’Reilly ordered a new cover be printed, without the quote. McGraw said he understands the entire issue will be tossed.

As a publication of the City of Dearborn, the mayor holds that privilege, McGraw said. Neither the city’s public information officer, nor McGraw’s supervisor at the historical museum, returned calls for comment.

Bill McGraw is popular former longtime Detroit Free Press journalist, writer, Detroit historian and Dearborn resident. Many of this forum will know him for his outstanding Detroit Almanac. He was recently appointed editor of the Dearborn Historian.

Revealing interviews on the issue with McGraw have just been aired by WUOM's Stateside [jump to minute 13:00] and WDET's Detroit Today with Stephen Henderson. [link coming]

I find the Mayor's action to be a gross overreaction and suppression of free discourse that will rightly blow up in his political face, making him look small and petty, maybe worse. The Mayor's actions have already given wings to the story. His best course is to reverse course and say "but of course..."