The first time Usama Dakdok came to Grand Forks, he was met with protesters.
This time, a trumpeter came on stage Tuesday at the Empire Arts Center and launched into "The Star Spangled Banner" after greeters at the door handed out pocket-sized books of the U.S. Constitution, Declaration of Independence and the New Testament.
Then Grand Forks City Council member Terry Bjerke strode out onto the stage, pulling no punches in a 20-minute speech on modern politics and freedom of speech.