Texas Gov. Greg Abbott (D) is threatening to pull $530,000 in state grants from Grand Prairie after a local Islamic organization advertised a “Muslims only” bash at a city-owned waterpark built with public money, calling it a constitutional violation and giving the city five days to fix it.
Abbott sent a letter Wednesday to Grand Prairie Mayor Ron Jensen warning that the state will revoke five public safety grants if Jensen does not cancel the June 1 gathering by May 11. If the money gets clawed back, Grand Prairie would be required to repay the full $530,000 and would be barred from seeking or receiving additional state funding until it demonstrates compliance with Texas law.
“A city-owned water park in Grand Prairie openly advertised a ‘MUSLIMS ONLY’ event, closed to the general public,” Abbott wrote on X. “That’s religious discrimination. It’s unconstitutional.”
Abbott cited Texas House Bill 4211, a law he signed that prohibits “Muslim-only no-go zones” in the state. He wants the gathering canceled and the city to issue a written commitment that no similar exclusionary event will be permitted at publicly funded facilities in the future.
“Let this be a lesson to local officials: Facilities funded by ALL taxpayers are not just for a subset of Texans,” Abbott wrote.
The event drew backlash last week after a promotional flier spread online describing it as a “Muslim only” event. Entry was originally limited to Muslim attendees, and the event required modest swimwear for all participants.
By Monday, organizer Aminah Knight had issued a revised version of the flyer that dropped the exclusionary language. The updated version reads “modest dress only” and states that “all are welcome.” The event website still maintains a detailed “what to wear” section, complete with purchase links for modesty-compliant swimwear for women, girls, boys, and toddlers.
Knight told the New York Post that the original language was misleading and did not reflect the actual intent of the event. She said the goal was to provide a comfortable space for Muslim families who prefer modest dress standards, not to turn away non-Muslim guests.
“The core intention behind this event is to create a space where individuals and families who value modest dress and a modest environment can come together and feel comfortable enjoying a recreational space that often does not naturally accommodate those preferences,” Knight said.
She added that attendance would be governed by the dress code, requiring burkinis for women and swim trunks with shirts for men.
The waterpark regularly rents out the facility for private events, Knight said, and the arrangement with the Eid organizers was consistent with that practice.
