Islamic Center Irving, Texas: Armed Americans Gather Outside Mosque In Protest, Are They Right Or Wrong? [Video]
The Islamic Center in Irving, Texas, was the site of a dozen armed American protesters on Saturday. The protesters that surrounded the Islamic Center were stating that they wanted an end to the “Islamization of America.” The armed protest came on the heels of rumors about the incoming Syrian refugees and the fear that sharia law would be coming to American cities. The protest was put together by David Wright. Wright spoke with the Dallas Morning News and claims that the weapons the protesters are carrying are for “self-protection,” and then Wright said, “we do want to show force. We’re not sitting ducks.”
Irving, Texas, was in the media spotlight earlier in 2015 due to Ahmed Mohamed. Mohamed was the teenage boy who made national news for bringing a clock into his school that was mistaken to be a bomb. Mohamed has since moved, with his family, to Qatar after receiving an offer from the Qatar Foundation for Education, Science, and Community Development.
The group that David Wright is part of is known as Bureau of American Islamic Relations. Wright’s group organized outside of the Islamic Center due to rumors that were being reported online and around the town of Irving. The rumors that were being heard were that the Islamic Center was operating a sharia court inside of the mosque and that the Islamic Center would be taking in refugees from war-torn Syria. Wright also claims that Beth Duyne, the mayor of Irving, was receiving death threats from Muslims in town. These claims were investigated by the Dallas Morning News and they were not able to substantiate any of the claims made by Wright.
In the video seen below, a man dressed all in black can be seen walking to the protest site with a rifle in his hands. It appears that the protesters who had their faces covered are the ones who were armed on Saturday. You can see another man in camo, who had his face covered, was also armed. The Islamic Center put up a statement on their Facebook page. The statement can be viewed here.
A member of the Islamic Center contacted David Palmer, a member of Irving’s City Council. Palmer went down to the protest to determine if there was a safety issue to members of the mosque.
“My initial impression was they were using them for intimidation. I doubt that they’d be happy if some of the Muslim churchgoers here showed up at their Christian church, their Baptist church, their Methodist church tomorrow morning with rifles slung over their shoulders.”
This doesn’t look like a protest. This is literally threatened mob violence. Not Constitutionally protected, guys. https://t.co/zcEorNWQR2
— JG (@JoelGord) November 22, 2015
The United States is currently divided when it comes to the issue of Muslims and Islam. The recent terrorist attacks by ISIS in Paris and fear that ISIS will be coming to the United States with the Syrian refugees have put some citizens in this country on high alert to anything Muslim related. Currently, 31 governors have publicly stated that they will not allow Syrian refugees into their state. The governors saying this are from both the Republican and Democratic parties. ISIS and the Syrian refugee crisis has also taken center stage for the Republican presidential candidates. Donald Trump, Ted Cruz, and Jeb Bush have been the most outspoken on this issue.
David Wright has made it clear of his intentions at the Islamic Center protest. He does not want any Syrian refugees to step foot on American soil.
“We don’t want people to think we’re out to kill people or shoot people. It would be ridiculous to protest Islam without defending ourselves.”
What are your thoughts on the Islamic Center protest in Irving, Texas?
[Image Via YouTube]
