The Jan. 17 “Stand with the Prophet” event drew hundreds of protesters who gathered along both sides of Naaman Forest Boulevard around the Curtis Culwell Center. The organizer of the event was a group called Sound Vision.
Most of the protesters were individuals and groups that opposed the use of a Garland Independent School District facility for this Islamic event that was billed by organizers as, “not an event, but a movement to defend Prophet Muhammad, his person and his message.” Others were upset with the scheduled guest speakers, one of which has been named as an alleged unindicted co-conspirator of the 1993 World Trade Center bombing.
There was a small contingent of Islamic individuals protesting the opposition of the event. They held signs with messages such as “Unity in the community,” “Love thy neighbor” and “Islam is not the enemy.”
One Islamic attendee said that he is an American but doesn’t feel that he enjoys the same freedoms as other Americans. Another said she did not understand the hate.
Those protesting the event cited several reasons for their opposition.
Barbara from Blue Ridge, Texas, said that she is constantly preaching to her family about what is going on in our country right now.
“I thought it was important to gather up the kids and bring them out and see what protesting in a peaceful way and to get our point across and to be heard.
An attendee from Dallas, who wished to remain anonymous, said “I have nothing against Islam at all, but this guy that is here speaking is pretty bad. I don’t think he should be allowed to speak.”
Jo, another protester, said, “I just felt it was important because we need to stand up for America…If we don’t stand up then what is the use in anything. I’m so glad to see all these people out here showing how strongly they feel.”
Everett, who came to the event from Baton Rouge, Louisiana, said “I don’t care for foreigners who want to come to our country and want to take our freedoms away but yet attempt to use those same kinds of freedoms for their agenda.”
“It’s important to take a stand for truth and I know there is no other truth outside of Jesus Christ…They suffer with fear and oppression…There is murder and violence against children and women…They teach hate,” said Christina who was there protesting the event.
Billie and Brenda, who each drove more than an hour to attend the protest said that they see what is going on in other parts of the world, and they don’t want it here.
“We want our Judeo Christian values kept up,” Brenda said.
Sound Vision representatives asked for extra security after announcing that they had received numerous threats regarding the event. The Garland Police Department handled security and even though there were a few verbal confrontations, there were no violent incidents.