{"id":2600024,"date":"2026-05-07T16:16:58","date_gmt":"2026-05-07T20:16:58","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/texas-water-park-cancels-muslim-event-after-abbott-threatens-to-pull-funds\/"},"modified":"2026-05-07T16:18:27","modified_gmt":"2026-05-07T20:18:27","slug":"texas-water-park-cancels-muslim-event-after-abbott-threatens-to-pull-funds","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/texas-water-park-cancels-muslim-event-after-abbott-threatens-to-pull-funds\/","title":{"rendered":"Texas water park cancels Muslim event after Abbott threatens to pull funds"},"content":{"rendered":"<aside class=\"mashsb-container mashsb-main mashsb-stretched\"><div class=\"mashsb-box\"><div class=\"mashsb-count mash-medium\" style=\"&quot;\"><div class=\"counts mashsbcount\">24<\/div><span class=\"mashsb-sharetext\">SHARES<\/span><\/div><div class=\"mashsb-buttons\"><a class=\"mashicon-facebook mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservativenewsdaily.net%2Fbreaking-news%2Ftexas-water-park-cancels-muslim-event-after-abbott-threatens-to-pull-funds%2F\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Facebook<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-twitter mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/intent\/tweet?text=&amp;url=https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/?p=2600024&amp;via=ConservNewsDly\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Twitter<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-subscribe mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"#\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Subscribe<\/span><\/a><div class=\"onoffswitch2 mash-medium mashsb-noshadow\" style=\"display:none\"><\/div><\/div>\n            <\/div>\n                <div style=\"clear:both\"><\/div><\/aside>\n            <!-- Share buttons by mashshare.net - Version: 4.0.47--><p>grand Prairie, Texas canceled a privately organized \u201cEpic Eid\u201d party at Epic Waters Indoor Waterpark after Gov. Greg Abbott threatened to pull $530,000 in state grants. Abbott said advertising a \u201cMuslims only\u201d event at a city-owned facility amounted to unconstitutional religious discrimination, arguing it was like a hypothetical \u201cWhites only\u201d public event.  <\/p>\n<p>The event\u2019s organizer later said the rental was open to people of other faiths and updated its materials to emphasize it was a modest-dress event meant to be family-amiable. Abbott nonetheless insisted the city-owned pool and the event\u2019s public marketing were discriminatory, and he referenced broader concerns about religious restrictions in Texas politics, including actions taken against groups he labeled as extremist and prior legislation aimed at preventing religious-only restrictions in housing developments.  <\/p>\n<p class=\"readmore\">\n    <button onclick=\"showReadMore()\" id=\"readmorebtn\">Read more&#8230;<\/button>\n<\/p>\n<hr id=\"line\">\n<span id=\"more\"><\/p>\n<article class=\"fn-body\">\n<p>The city of Grand Prairie, <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/texas\/\" type=\"post_tag\" id=\"253\">Texas<\/a>, canceled a private party for <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/muslims\/\" type=\"post_tag\" id=\"704\">Muslims<\/a> at a water park after Gov. <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/greg-abbott\/\" type=\"post_tag\" id=\"1373\">Greg Abbott <\/a>(R-TX) threatened he would pull $530,000 in state grants to the city. <\/p>\n<p>The event, which would have celebrated a Muslim holy day on June 1, was scheduled to take place at Epic Waters Indoor Waterpark. <\/p>\n<section class=\"explore-more-section\" id=\"wex-recommended-widget\">\n<div class=\"magazine-container single\">\n<h1 class=\"magazine-title mt-2\">Recommended Stories<\/h1>\n<p>             <i class=\"fa-solid fa-play icon\"><\/i>         <\/div>\n<div class=\"explore-grid\">\n<div class=\"explore-card\">                         <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/4559291\/texas-waterpark-cancel-muslim-only-event-abbott-call-out\/?itm_source=parsely-api\">                             <\/p>\n<div class=\"explore-thumb-wrap\">                                                                                                                                  <\/div>\n<h3>Texas waterpark cancels \u2018Muslim only\u2019 event after Abbott calls them out<\/h3>\n<p>                         <\/a>                     <\/div>\n<div class=\"explore-card\">                         <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/4558157\/alan-dershowitz-turns-on-democratic-party\/?itm_source=parsely-api\">                             <\/p>\n<div class=\"explore-thumb-wrap\">                                                                                                                                  <\/div>\n<h3>After 70 years of loyalty, Alan Dershowitz turns on Democratic Party<\/h3>\n<p>                         <\/a>                     <\/div>\n<div class=\"explore-card\">                         <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/4556807\/zohran-mamdani-all-foam-no-beer-joe-concha\/?itm_source=parsely-api\">                             <\/p>\n<div class=\"explore-thumb-wrap\">                                                                                                                                  <\/div>\n<h3>\u2018Mamdani is all foam and no beer\u2019: Joe Concha<\/h3>\n<p>                         <\/a>                     <\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/section>\n<p>An early version of the flyer said that the celebration would be a \u201cMuslim only event\u201d and require a \u201cmodest dress code.\u201d<\/p>\n<div class=\"article-paywall\">\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\" data-width=\"550\" data-dnt=\"true\">\n<p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">A \u201cMuslim only\u201d event at a city-run waterpark in Texas has been canceled after major backlash from the state\u2019s governor.<\/p>\n<p>A local Islamic group rented out the Epic Waters Indoor Waterpark in Grand Prairie for its annual &#8220;Epic Eid&#8221; celebration on June 1, advertising the party as a\u2026 <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/Yr8wa7zNuH\">pic.twitter.com\/Yr8wa7zNuH<\/a><\/p>\n<p>\u2014 Fox News (@FoxNews) <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/FoxNews\/status\/2052394435229393115?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">May 7, 2026<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p><script data-cfasync=\"false\" src=\"http:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/cdn-cgi\/scripts\/5c5dd728\/cloudflare-static\/email-decode.min.js\"><\/script><script async src=\"https:\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script> <\/div>\n<\/figure>\n<p>The event\u2019s organizer, Aminah Knight, later clarified that the event was open to people following other religions. <\/p>\n<p>\u201cDFW Epic Eid is a privately organized and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/backlash-erupts-after-city-owned-water-park-advertises-muslims-only-day\/\" title=\"Backlash Erupts After ... Advertises &#039;Muslims Only&#039; Day\">privately funded event held<\/a> through a standard rental of Epic Waters, just like many other private gatherings hosted at the park,\u201d Knight <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/dfwepiceid.com\/\" type=\"link\" id=\"https:\/\/dfwepiceid.com\/\">said<\/a>. <\/p>\n<p>\u201cIn response to feedback, we have updated our materials to clearly reflect that this is a modest dress-only event, centered around a respectful and family-friendly environment,\u201d the organizer continued. \u201cSo if you are a friend of a different faith who wants to celebrate the Eid holiday with us and adhere to the modest dress code\u2026. this event is FOR YOU TOO!\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Abbott slammed the event, calling it \u201cunconstitutional\u201d and \u201creligious discrimination.\u201d  <\/p>\n<p>\u201cA city-owned water park in Grand Prairie openly advertised a \u201cMUSLIMS ONLY\u201d event \u2014 closed to the general public,\u201d Abbott wrote in a <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/x.com\/GregAbbott_TX\/status\/2052074705582989453\">statement on X<\/a>. \u201cThat\u2019s religious discrimination. It\u2019s unconstitutional.\u201d <\/p>\n<p>Abbott added that he would pull $530,000 in city funding if the city did not cancel the event. <\/p>\n<p>\u201cThe event purports to be public facing and discriminatory at the same time: All Muslims\u2014but only Muslims\u2014may attend,\u201d the governor wrote in a <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/x.com\/GregAbbott_TX\/status\/2052074705582989453\">letter<\/a> to Grand Prairie Mayor Ron Jensen.\u00a0 \u201cAn event at a city-owned pool that was publicly and indiscriminately advertised as \u201cWhites only\u201d would surely violate the Constitution.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>In November, Abbott designated the <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/muslim-brotherhood\/\">Muslim Brotherhood<\/a> and the <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/cair\/page\/2\/?_amp=true\">Center for American Islamic Relations<\/a> as \u201cradical extremist\u201d and foreign terrorist organizations. <\/p>\n<p><a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/world\/4552487\/iran-war-is-us-taking-out-trash-tiana-lowe-doescher\/\"><strong>IRAN WAR IS US \u2018TAKING OUT THE TRASH\u2019: TIANA LOWE DOESCHER<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n<p>A few months earlier, Abbott signed a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/texas-waterpark-cancels-muslim-event-after-abbott-threatens-to-pull-funds\/\" title=\"... water... cancels Muslim event after ... threatens to pull funds\">bill banning residential property developments<\/a> from being limited to individuals of one religious belief. The legislation was <span style=\"box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;\">in<a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/senate\/3379104\/cornyn-asks-doj-investigate-proposed-muslim-focused-community\/\"> response<\/a><\/span><a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/senate\/3379104\/cornyn-asks-doj-investigate-proposed-muslim-focused-community\/\" type=\"link\" id=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/senate\/3379104\/cornyn-asks-doj-investigate-proposed-muslim-focused-community\/\">  to a<\/a> muslim development \u2014 the East Plano Islamic Center \u2014 that was proposed last year. The development would <a href=\"https:\/\/amzn.to\/3YuVZYV\" >feature single-family lots<\/a>, townhomes, apartments, a mosque, a K-12 faith-based school, elderly and assisted living, and a community college, among other things. <\/p>\n<p>The project remains embroiled in legal battles. <\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<p><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Grand Prairie, Texas cancels Muslim party at waterpark after Abbott threat<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":4195,"featured_media":2600025,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_mo_disable_npp":"","fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/AP25288552874371_6c5d7b.jpg?w=696","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[33651],"tags":[79279,79273,3694,37836],"class_list":["post-2600024","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-the-western-journal","tag-abbot","tag-muslim-event","tag-texas","tag-water-park"],"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/AP25288552874371_6c5d7b.jpg?w=696","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2600024","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/4195"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2600024"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2600024\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2600028,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2600024\/revisions\/2600028"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2600025"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2600024"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2600024"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2600024"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}