On Tuesday, June 2, the DFW chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR-DFW) plans to join faith leaders, civil rights advocates, community organizations, and affected families for a press conference in Grand Prairie to address the cancellation of a planned Eid celebration at Epic Waters following political pressure from Texas Governor Greg Abbott and a coordinated campaign of anti-Muslim rhetoric by right-wing media figures.

WHAT: Multi-Faith News Conference in Support of Eid Celebration at Epic Waters

WHEN: Tuesday, June 2, 2026, at 5 P.M.

WHERE: Grand Prairie City Hall, 300 W. Main St., Grand Prairie, TX 75050

CONTACT: Mustafaa Carroll, CAIR-DFW Executive Director, 469-998-2247, mcarroll@cair.com; Sameeha Rizvi, CAIR-Texas Civic Engagement Organizer, 512-893-1371, srizvi@cair.com

On May 7, 2026, CAIR had previously responded to Governor Greg Abbott’s threat to terminate $530,000 in state grants to the City of Grand Prairie. The governor’s ultimatum forced the cancellation of “DFW Epic Eid,” a private community celebration at Epic Waters waterpark.

CAIR-Texas stood in full solidarity with the Texas State Representatives and Senators who, in a joint letter, defended the constitutional protections against viewpoint discrimination and religious hostility.

SEE: JOINT LEGISLATIVE STATEMENT TO GOVERNOR ABBOTT

The Facts vs. The Narrative:

• A Standard Process: The event was booked through the city’s standard private rental process. This is the same process used by churches, sports teams, and civic groups across Texas.
• A Sincere Correction: Please note, the flyer and the wording used were a collaborative effort with the park and not simply a mistake on the part of the organizers. However, upon recognizing the original flyer’s phrasing was ill-advised, the organizers corrected it immediately to ensure clarity. The Governor’s threat was issued after these corrections were made.
• A Lawful Gathering: No law enforcement agency or oversight body found any violation of Texas law. The event was a peaceful religious holiday gathering that complied with all local regulations.

In a statement, CAIR-Texas DFW Executive Director Mustafaa Carroll said:

“We acknowledge that concerns were raised about language used in promotional materials for the DFW Epic Waters Eid event. It is important to note that the materials in question were reviewed and approved by Epic Waters prior to publication and were consistent with materials approved for previous events.”

“Nevertheless, after objections were raised by outside agitators, the organizers acted in good faith to revise the language and provide additional clarity, even though the venue itself had not requested any changes. The Governor’s intervention came only after those revisions had already been made. We believe public officials should respond to disagreement with fairness and dialogue rather than political pressure and retaliation.”

“The Quran (42:40) elevates reconciliation over retaliation; the Bible (Matthew 18:22) teaches that mercy should be infinite; and the Tanakh (Isaiah 55:7) promises abundant pardon for those who seek to do right. It is deeply disappointing to see these universal values cast aside in favor of using a city’s financial stability as a lever against its own residents.

“By using the state’s checkbook to enforce a double standard, Governor Abbott’s ‘enforcement by ultimatum’ unfortunately mirrors the ‘Massive Resistance’ tactics used by segregationist leaders in the 1950s. Whether it was Virginia Governor Thomas Stanley, who signed laws to automatically cut off state funding to any district that didn’t follow his agenda, or Arkansas Governor Orval Faubus, who redirected public funds to shut out Black children from accessing equal public schools, the use of state funding to isolate specific communities from public life is a chapter of history we should not be repeating. We should be building a Texas where everyone is welcome, not one where certain people are subject to a different set of rules. Additionally, the Governor’s threat helped to create security concerns and the probability of violence.”

“In a state that prides itself on faith and family values, we expect our leaders to act with the grace found in our shared traditions rather than with political retaliation.”

The Eid celebration was a private, family-oriented event organized for families to commemorate one of the most important holidays in Islam. This same event had been held successfully in previous years without controversy or incident.

Community leaders contend that the cancellation is yet another example of the double standards and prejudice that Muslims continually face in Texas. They argue that Governor Abbott improperly used the power and influence of his office to pressure local officials to interfere with a peaceful community event solely because it was associated with the Muslim community.

“This is not simply about a water park or a holiday celebration,” said Imam Muhammad Abdullah, Associate Imam of Masjid Al-Islam, community organizer, and one of the organizers of the Eid event alongside his wife, Dr. Aminah Knight. “This is about whether Muslim families will be treated with the same dignity, fairness, and respect afforded to other communities. When elected officials single out Muslim gatherings and use political pressure to prevent families from celebrating.”

We call upon the City of Grand Prairie and Epic Waters to:

• Publicly acknowledge that this event was canceled because of political pressure and anti-Muslim agitation,
• Issue an official public statement regarding the circumstances that led to its cancellation, and,
• Apologize to Muslim families who were singled out because of their faith.

CAIR-Texas’s mission is to protect civil rights, enhance understanding of Islam, promote justice, and empower American Muslims.

La misión de CAIR-Texas es proteger las libertades civiles, mejorar la comprensión del Islam, promover la justicia, y empoderar a los musulmanes en los Estados Unidos.

END

CONTACT: CAIR National Deputy Director Edward Ahmed Mitchell, 404-285-9530, e-Mitchell@cair.com; CAIR Government Affairs Director Robert McCaw, 202-742-6448, rmccaw@cair.com; CAIR National Communications Director Ibrahim Hooper, 202-744-7726, ihooper@cair.com; CAIR National Communications Manager Ismail Allison, 202-770-6280, iallison@cair.com