Have there been anti-american rallies led by Muslim groups in recent years? Have they chanted "death to america"
Executive summary
Yes — reporting shows both anti-Muslim rallies organized by right-wing groups and separate protests with some participants chanting “Death to America” at pro-Palestine or Iran-related events in recent years. Coverage cites a high-profile November 18, 2025 anti‑Islam rally in Dearborn organized by right‑wing influencers that featured provocative acts against Muslims [1] [2], and multiple April 2024 al-Quds / pro‑Palestine demonstrations in Dearborn where some attendees chanted “Death to America” and “Death to Israel,” which was condemned by local leaders and the White House [3] [4] [5] [6].
1. Two separate phenomena: anti‑Muslim rallies vs. anti‑American chants at pro‑Palestine events
Recent reporting distinguishes provocations by anti‑Muslim organizers from chants heard at pro‑Palestine or Iran‑related demonstrations. Outlets document a November 18, 2025 Dearborn event driven by right‑wing influencers where organizers unfurled “Americans Against Islamification,” attempted to burn or defile Qur’ans, and shouted racist abuse — actions framed by reporters as anti‑Muslim provocation [1] [2] [7]. Separately, videos and coverage of al‑Quds and other pro‑Palestine rallies in Dearborn in April 2024 show some attendees chanting “Death to America” and “Death to Israel,” a chant which local officials and the White House publicly condemned [4] [5] [6].
2. Who led the anti‑Muslim rallies and what they did
Journalists and watchdogs identified specific far‑right activists and influencer networks behind the anti‑Muslim demonstrations. The Guardian and Georgetown’s Bridge Initiative cite figures such as Jake Lang, Cam Higby and associates from conservative influencer networks, who participated in the November 18, 2025 rally in Dearborn where Quran desecration was attempted and banners reading “Americans Against Islamification” were displayed [1] [7]. Reuters and regional reporting documented attempts to burn Qur’ans at the same event, underscoring that the provocations were carried out by non‑Muslim provocateurs rather than by Muslim groups [2] [1].
3. The “Death to America” chant: where it appears in reporting
The chant “Death to America” appears repeatedly in two contexts in the sources. First, as a longstanding slogan in Iranian state and public events — a documented feature of Iranian rallies and official anniversaries going back decades [8] [9] [10]. Second, U.S. coverage confirms that the phrase was chanted by some attendees at a Dearborn al‑Quds/ pro‑Palestine rally in April 2024; multiple outlets recorded the chant, and organizers and community leaders later disavowed it [4] [5] [11] [6]. Sources do not show the chant being led by mainstream Muslim institutions; rather, reporting notes some chants came from parts of the crowd and, in at least one account, were not authorized by event organizers [11].
4. Scale and frequency: isolated incidents vs. broader trends
Advocacy groups and news reports point to a spike in anti‑Muslim incidents in recent years tied to the Israel‑Gaza war and political polarization: CAIR recorded record complaints in 2024 and Reuters reported a 7.4% rise in anti‑Muslim incidents in 2024 [12]. Conversely, instances of “Death to America” chanting inside the U.S. appear as episodic and tied to specific rallies (al‑Quds April 2024; videos circulated), not a mainstream expression across U.S. Muslim communities according to the cited coverage [4] [5] [6]. Available sources do not claim the chant is widespread or representative of the broader American Muslim population — they document particular events and reactions.
5. Competing narratives and contested footage online
Right‑wing sites and influencers amplified footage and claims about chanting and about which groups led events; other outlets and community leaders emphasized provocation, context, and condemnation. For example, conservative blogs highlight “entire crowds” chanting [13] while mainstream outlets and local leaders stress that chants were from parts of the crowd and were denounced by organizers or community figures [11] [5] [6]. Watchdog reporting situates anti‑Muslim rallies within a longer U.S. Islamophobia ecosystem that traffics in sensationalized incidents for attention [14] [15].
6. What the record shows — and what it doesn’t
The record in these sources shows: (a) organized anti‑Muslim rallies in the U.S. in recent years, including high‑profile provocations in Dearborn led by far‑right activists [1] [2]; (b) instances of “Death to America” and “Death to Israel” chanted by some attendees at certain pro‑Palestine/Al‑Quds rallies in Dearborn in April 2024, prompting condemnation [4] [5] [6]; and (c) “Death to America” as a longstanding slogan in Iranian public events [8] [9]. Available sources do not claim those chants represent the majority of American Muslims or that Muslim‑led mainstream organizations endorse them — in fact, at least one al‑Quds organizer called the chant a “mistake” [11].
If you want, I can compile a short timeline of the cited events (April 2024 al‑Quds chants; November 18, 2025 Dearborn anti‑Muslim rally) with links to the primary reporting above.