Dallas, TX, May 4, 2015 … The Anti-Defamation League (ADL) today condemned the attempted violent attack at a community center in Garland, Texas last night. Two armed individuals reportedly targeted the center where an anti-Muslim event was taking place.
Abraham H. Foxman, ADL National Director, and Roberta S. Clark, ADL Regional Director, issued the following statement:
We deplore the attempted assault on the Culwell Events Center in Garland, TX last night. No matter how offensive an event or program may be, there is no place in our community or our country for such violence.
Law enforcement is investigating the alleged shooters, and we are confident they will soon know more about the individuals who perpetrated this assault.
The event in question was connected to an art contest featuring cartoon renderings of the prophet Muhammad. Organized by anti-Muslim activist Pamela Geller, it featured a speech by Dutch Parliamentarian Geert Wilders, who has advanced a conspiratorial anti-Muslim agenda for many years. Similar programs have sparked violence in Europe, and the appropriate extra security measures put in place by the Culwell Center likely prevented more deaths and injuries. We send our best wishes to the courageous security officer who was wounded and is now recovering.
We commend the Garland Police Department and other local and federal law enforcement agencies for their effective response to this violent incident.
ADL has documented the spike in individuals living in the United States linked to plots, conspiracies and other activity on behalf of foreign terrorist groups motivated by Islamic extremist ideologies in the first four months of 2015.