Texas Conservative Group Sends Anti-Muslim Email Days Before 9/11 Anniversary, Sparking Outrage
A Texas conservative organization circulated an anti-Muslim email to supporters Monday, disparaging Middle Eastern elected officials and invoking the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks just three days before the 24th anniversary of the tragedy, according to multiple Texas news outlets.
Inflammatory Message Targets Muslim Officials
True Texas Project, which describes itself as a grassroots conservative group with chapters statewide, wrote in the Monday email that it "boggles their mind "how quickly we went from our vow to 'never forget' to now having multiple elected positions filled by Middle Easterners, according to KERA News.
The message described such political choices as "foolish" and acknowledged that critics would likely label the comments as bigoted. Leaders of the True Texas Project did not respond to requests for comment from The Texas Newsroom.
Part of Rising Anti-Muslim Sentiment in Texas Politics
The controversial email represents the latest incident in what observers describe as escalating anti-Muslim rhetoric among Texas Republicans. Just hours before the True Texas Project message, Gov. Greg Abbott posted on social media declaring that "sharia law and sharia cities are banned in the state of Texas," adding that "any legal system that flouts human rights is BANNED."
"This is not what Texas stands for, this is not what America stands for," said Democratic state Rep. Salman Bhojani of Euless, who called the email "really insulting" in an interview with The Texas Newsroom.
Last month, Bo French, chair of the Tarrant County Republican Party, targeted Rep. Bhojani in social media posts, asking followers whether the law should be changed to "forbid foreign-born people from holding any elected office" in a since-deleted post.
Civil Rights Groups Sound Alarm
The Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) condemned Abbott's social media post, with a spokesperson stating, "Governor Abbott should visit one of the many mosques across Texas to learn about what Sharia really is. In the meantime, he should know that the Texas Muslim community fears God, not dishonest fearmongering from politicians who understand Islam about as well as they understand the First Amendment".
A recent CAIR report indicated that the campaign against EPIC City used state power in ways that could limit opportunities for Texas Muslims.
National Context of Rising Islamophobia
According to FBI data, hate crimes targeting Muslims surged immediately after the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks and continue to escalate. Research from Rice University shows that 62 percent of Muslims report experiencing hostility based on their faith, while 65 percent feel disrespected by others—nearly three times the rate seen among Christians.
The Southern Poverty Law Center notes that anti-Muslim groups have cultivated allies in Congress and among political networks, with figures like Sen. Ted Cruz of Texas maintaining relationships with these organizations.