Simon Baz was a Lebanese-American child living in Dearborn , Michigan , during the events of the September 11 attacks in 2001 . Growing up , Simon and his sister Sira were both persecuted due to their ethnicity . As a young adult , Simon got involved in street racing , and eventually car theft ; the former put his brother-in-law in a coma in the hospital . Simon is fired from his job and , in a moment of desperation , he steals a car . While trying to evade the police in the stolen vehicle , Simon finds out that there is a bomb in it . Simon drives the van into the abandoned car factory he was laid off from , knowing that no one would be hurt in the explosion . The resulting explosion is seen as an act of terrorism by the authorities , and Simon is brought in for questioning . As Simon is being interrogated , Hal Jordan and Sinestro 's fused and malfunctioning Green Lantern Power Ring finds Simon , and selects him as the new wielder , flying him away from captivity . With their suspect gone , the federal agents interrogating Simon contact Amanda Waller about the situation , a transmission Cyborg of the Justice League picks up . Cyborg relays the transmission to Batman and asks if anyone has spoken to Hal Jordan since he quit the League . Meanwhile , Simon lies on the ground , knocked out , while elsewhere , the Third Army begins to spread
September 11 attacks
September 11 attacks
Simon Baz