Governor Threatens Funding Over Eid Event

Texas Governor Greg Abbott issued a stern ultimatum, stating that state funding would be at risk unless cities cancel events exclusively for Muslims at taxpayer-supported water parks.

On Wednesday, the Republican Party warned Grand Prairie Mayor Ron Jensen that the state might revoke $530,000 in security grants if he failed to cancel an upcoming Eid celebration at Epic Indoor Park, which had been initially promoted as “Muslims Only,” as indicated in a letter obtained by a newspaper.

This annual DFW Epic Eid event required modest swimwear and was originally closed to the general public.

Abbott criticized the June 1 event—which has been held at the indoor park for the past two years—as discriminatory and unconstitutional. He gave Mayor Jensen, who identifies as a political independent, until Monday to call off the event.

“A municipal water park in Grand Prairie openly advertised a ‘Muslim-only’ event with no general admission,” Abbott expressed his frustration in a post on social media.

He described the event as unacceptable, stating, “It’s religious discrimination. It’s unconstitutional. I signed HB 4211 into law, banning Muslim-only zones in Texas. The city must cancel the event and assure by May 11 that this won’t happen again, or face losing $530,000 in state funding.”

Abbott emphasized the importance of fairness: “All taxpayer-funded facilities are not just for a few Texans.”

The letter indicated that if the state withheld the city’s grants, Grand Prairie officials would be obligated to repay the funds and would be barred from seeking future funding until they adhered to Texas law.

The city of Grand Prairie had yet to respond to requests for a comment concerning the situation.

The planned holiday gathering at the 80,000-square-foot water park, which opened in 2017 with an investment of $88 million, faced backlash after a flyer advertised it as a “Muslim-only event.”

A revised flyer released Monday eliminated the phrase “Muslims only” and instead stated “modest dress only,” while inviting everyone to “Come celebrate Eid with us.” It also included a section on the website recommending appropriate modest swimwear for attendees.

Amina Knight, the event organizer, previously stated to the media that she had updated the advertisement to clarify that the gathering would focus on modest clothing rather than exclusion. She remarked, “The central intention behind this event is to create a space where individuals and families who value modest clothing and a modest environment can come together and comfortably enjoy recreational spaces.”

She noted that while the event is centered around the Muslim celebration of Eid, it promotes a dress code that guides participation, such as recommending burkinis for women and swimsuits paired with shirts for men.

The water park is financed through a 0.25% sales tax approved by local residents in 2014 and often hosts private events.