Dozens of demonstrators gathered outside the Islamic Association of Collin County in Plano on Friday afternoon, holding signs and flags while women inside the building performed their midday prayers. The rally, organized by the Lone Star Legionaries, drew approximately 50 people who expressed opposition to Islam.
Some attendees carried firearms and large flags, while others displayed signs with slogans such as "Don't Mecca my Texas" and "Sharia brings no joy, no love, no peace."
Inside the mosque, the atmosphere remained calm as young and old filled the rows on the carpeted floor. Zeba Siddiqui, a congregant who has lived near the facility for nearly three decades, attended the service despite warnings of the nearby demonstration. "I felt like we shouldn't be afraid of it," she said. "I felt like we should do what we normally do."
The mosque, which serves approximately 1,500 people daily, had prepared for the event by notifying law enforcement and recruiting volunteers to patrol the grounds. Several police officers and congregants wearing security vests monitored the area.
Akram Syed, the congregation's president, noted that while the building opened shortly after the 2001 terrorist attacks, the current level of public pushback is a recent development for the community, which has lived in the area since 1992.
Brandon Burkhart, who organized the rally, traveled from Hill County to participate. He stated his goal was to prevent the spread of what he described as "terroristic ways … hiding behind a religion." Standing near the property line, he added, "We're not going to allow Shariah law to be taking effect here. We're going to continue to fight this."
