Group Wielding Firearms Converged at Mosque Protest in Texas, Encountering Armed Defenders
In a display of solidarity and protection, African-American self-defense groups, including the New Black Panther Party and the Huey P. Newton Gun Club, recently defended a Nation of Islam mosque in South Dallas against an armed protest by the Bureau of American Islamic Relations (BAIR), an anti-Islamic hate group.
The incident, which took place on a Saturday, was charged with tension, with police having extra resources on hand due to the inflammatory nature of the planned protest. The event, however, ended without any reported incidents of violence.
This incident is not an isolated occurrence in the state of Texas. In 2016, the Huey P. Newton Gun Club organized a counter-protest at the Muhammad Mosque in South Dallas in response to a demonstration by BAIR. Both groups were armed during this protest, and police were present; the event ended without violence.
The New Black Panther Party, with Krystal Muhammad armed with a large shotgun, was standing up, not sitting in, as they defended the mosque. Yafeuh Balogun, spokesman for the Huey P. Newton Gun Club, stated they were taking a defensive posture and not threatening anyone.
The New Black Panther Party and the Huey P. Newton Gun Club have a history of opposing anti-Muslim demonstrations by groups like BAIR, positioning themselves as protectors of targeted communities and exercising a visible, often armed, presence during such events.
In a related development, in December, BAIR again stalked Muslims at the Islamic Association of North Texas. However, the exact reason for the postponement of the protest in question is unclear from the provided information. BAIR claimed an agreement was made with the Nation of Islam leadership and Dallas police to postpone the protest last week.
It is important to note that the Southern Poverty Law Center lists the New Black Panther Party as a hate group. BAIR, on the other hand, has a history of intimidating worshipers at mosques by showing up with firearms.
The Dallas Morning News reported on the recent event, with Matthew McIntosh penning the article. This incident reflects a broader pattern where African-American armed self-defense groups have actively opposed anti-Muslim demonstrations by groups like BAIR, highlighting the tensions and confrontations that have occurred between these groups in Texas.
[1] Source: The Dallas Morning News, The Guardian, and the Southern Poverty Law Center.
- This incident, as reported by The Dallas Morning News, falls under the category of general-news, as it involves a standoff between African-American self-defense groups and an anti-Islamic hate group, unfolding within the realm of politics.
- The New Black Panther Party and the Huey P. Newton Gun Club, labeled as a hate group by the Southern Poverty Law Center, have taken a stance on crime-and-justice issues, regularly opposing anti-Muslim demonstrations by groups like BAIR while exercising a visible, often armed, presence.
