Following public backlash, Epic Waters Indoor Waterpark, a city-owned water park in Grand Prairie, has canceled its Muslims-only event.
Scheduled for June 1, the taxpayer-funded water park, which is operated by third-party manager American Resort Management LLC, had planned to host an event called “DFW Epic Eid,” which was advertised as a Muslim-only event.
After criticism mounted online, organizers revised the flyer’s language to state that all guests were welcome. However, attendees would be required to adhere to a modest dress code to enter.
Despite the revised language in the flyer, Gov. Greg Abbott sent a letter to city officials warning that if the event was not canceled, the city could risk losing state grant funding.
In the letter, Abbott argued that the event was discriminatory and therefore in violation of Texas and federal law.
“The event purports to be public facing and discriminatory at the same time: All Muslims but only Muslims may attend. An event at a city-owned pool that was publicly and indiscriminately advertised as ‘Whites only’ would surely violate the Constitution… The same must be true here. Government may not use private organizations as a ‘subterfuge’ to ‘directly or indirectly’ foster illegal discrimination,” Abbott’s letter reads.
Abbott also released a statement saying the situation should serve as a warning to local officials across Texas.
“Let this be a lesson to local officials: Facilities funded by ALL taxpayers are not just for a subset of Texans,” wrote Abbott.
As a result, the city canceled the event, saying the decision was made in its best interest.
“After further review and in the best interest of the City of Grand Prairie, the June 1 EID event at Epic Waters Indoor Waterpark has been canceled,” spokesperson Beth Owens told Texas Scorecard.
Grand Prairie currently has five active grants through the Public Safety Office of the Office of the Governor, totaling $533,000. Upon accepting the grants, the city agreed to “comply with all State and Federal statutes relating to civil rights and nondiscrimination.”
Along with canceling the event, the city must also commit to “never allowing a ‘Muslim only’ event to occur on property owned or operated by the City.”