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People lured in for "free homes" at event in Detroit

Posted at 7:46 PM, Jul 03, 2018
and last updated 2018-07-04 13:51:25-04

An ad going around on social media is stating there is a 'free homes' fair in Detroit, giving away free vacant homes.

However, this isn’t the case. 

The city of Detroit recently denied an events permit for people to gather outside city hall and learn more about a program giving away free homes scheduled for July 4.  

One of the organizers of the event, Kofi Holmes, tells 7 Action News they will still be meeting at city hall. 

Holmes says they will be gathering signatures to make the premise of getting a free vacant home a reality.  The denied event permit was filed under the name Ramzu Yunus.

This isn’t the first time Yunus has stirred things up.  Yunus was involved in a rally held in October of 2016 in Highland Park, where he stated he would be taking over the city of Highland Park and claiming it as a free state. 

There was a major police presence at this rally including helicopters, SWAT team and bomb squad. That's because just a few months earlier Yunus held a protest on July 4, 2016 where hundreds showed up. 

Both of these rallies and protests were held under the lure of free homes.  Yunus was charged with trespassing, disorderly conduct, disturbing the peace, and resisting or obstructing an officer in discharge of duty for the 2016 Fourth of July event. He was found guilty on all counts during a jury trial. 

Detroit Police tell 7 Action News they will be on site at city hall during the scheduled event time.