Eric Gay/The Associated Press
Hecklers hold signs and yell to disrupt a group gathered for a Texas Muslim Capitol Day rally Thursday.
AUSTIN — More state officials spoke out Friday against the reception given to Muslims who gathered at the Texas Capitol, including Republican Gov. Greg Abbott, who said the state must have “civil discourse.”
On Thursday, when hundreds of Texas Muslims visited the Capitol to meet lawmakers and learn about political engagement, a freshman Texas lawmaker instructed her staff to ask Muslims who came to her office to declare their allegiance to America. Outside, a small group of protesters urged Muslims to “go home,” and one grabbed a microphone from a speaker to condemn Islam’s prophet, Muhammad.
Abbott did not specifically mention either incident. After delivering a speech to a convention of the Texas Veterans of Foreign Wars, he told reporters that he wanted to see more decorum.
“We must have civil, open debate of hotly contested issues in this state,” Abbott said. “Texas values are strong enough that we can have a civil discourse about issues like this.”
A group of El Paso lawmakers was more direct in criticizing Rep. Molly White, R-Belton, for her instructions to her staff. They called her stance “misguided” and said that, as representatives of a border community, they found it “especially troubling to see Americans mistreated because they look or act or believe differently than the majority might.”
“While a handful of private citizens and one misguided state representative sought headlines with hate, their views are not ours and do not reflect those of the Texas Legislature as a whole,” the six Democratic House members said in a written statement.
White, who was not in the Capitol during the Muslims’ visits, publicized her plans on Facebook. She wrote that she had set out an Israeli flag in her office and left instructions for her staff if Muslims stopped by.
“We will see how long they stay in my office,” White posted.
Staff writer Marissa Barnett,
The Associated Press
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