Controversial Texas Pool Party Canceled By Governor’s Order

UPDATE:  According to Fox 4, DFW Epic Eid, a Muslim only event that was intended to celebrate the Islamic holiday on June 1 at a taxpayer funded Grand Prairie water park, has been canceled. This follows Governor Abbott threatening to pull thousands in public grants from the city if it didn't cancel the event due to religious discrimination.The event was advertised as "Muslim Only" and had a Muslim dress code. Event organizers “later” said that anyone who adhered to the dress code...burkinis for women... shorts and shirts for men, could enjoy the event regardless of religion.

First, there was controversy over a Muslim group that planned to create a Muslim only suburb in Texas. Now, Governor Abbott is threatening to pull a Texas city’s funding over a Muslim only event at a taxpayer funded water park.

Religion Based Exclusion

Religion is a hot topic in Texas, and Epic Waters water park in Grand Prairie has just “waded” into the middle of it. Pun intended. A Muslim group has been promoting a “Muslim Only” event at a city owned venue, and Texans are not happy about it.

Governor Abbott Weighs In

Governor Abbott has issued a stern ultimatum to the City of Grand Prairie regarding the controversial event. In a letter that didn’t mince words, the Governor threatened to rescind over half a million dollars in state funding if local officials allow the Islamic celebration to go forward, a celebration he said was exclusionary and unconstitutional.

The Funding at Stake

Governor Abbott’s warning targets $530,000 in public safety grants currently allocated to Grand Prairie. According to Abbott, the state will not only claw back these funds but will also bar the city from applying for future financial support until it demonstrates compliance with state law.

There Is a State Law for That

The Governor cited House Bill 4211, legislation he signed to prevent "no-go zones", arguing that facilities supported by all taxpayers cannot legally be restricted to a specific religious subset of the population.House Bill 4211 also bans residential property developments, like EPIC City, from creating Sharia compounds that discriminate against non MuslimTexans.

The Dispute Over "Exclusivity"

The conflict centers on the third-annual DFW Epic Eid event at the Epic Waters Indoor Waterpark, a massive $88 million facility funded by a voter-approved sales tax. Texans were livid after promotional materials for the gathering initially described the water park as "exclusively reserved for Muslims." The group held the event at the same location in the past, but for those events, the park was open to other residents as well.

Response To the Backlash

In response to the backlash, event organizer Aminah Knight-Abdullah updated the advertisements to remove the "Muslim-only" language, replacing it with a message stating that "all are welcome" while emphasizing a "modest dress-only" policy.

Focus on Muslim Attire

Despite the broader invitation, the event maintains strict requirements for attire, including burkinis for women and swim trunks paired with shirts for men.

Deadline For Cancellation

Governor Abbott has set a deadline of May 11 for the city to cancel the event and pledge that similar restrictive gatherings will not be permitted in the future.