Texas City Council Member Criticizes Armed Protesters For Standing in Front of Mosque

Armed protesters reportedly gathered outside of a mosque in Irving, Texas recently to protest the "Islamization of America."

The protesters reportedly convened at the Islamic Center of Irving on Saturday toting guns and signs that argued against the "Islamization of America."

Protesters reportedly told local media outlets that they brought guns to the protest as a form of "self protection."

The gathering of the protesters reportedly centers around rumors that the mosque is attempting to start a court where Shariah Law would be enforced.

Mayor Beth Van Duyne sought to clarify these rumors in a social media post, writing: "Recently, there have been rumors suggesting that the City of Irving has somehow condoned, approved or enacted the implementation of a Sharia Law Court in our City. Let me be clear, neither the City of Irving, our elected officials or city staff have anything to do with the decision of the mosque that has been identified as starting a Sharia Court."

David Palmer, an Irvign City Council member, told The Dallas Morning News that he was unsure why the protesters chose to bring guns to the mosque.

"Does it look like there's any threat here? Nobody's even close to them," Palmer told the media outlet.

"My initial impression was they were using them for intimidation," Palmer said. "I doubt that they'd be happy if some of the Muslim churchgoers here showed up at their Christian church, their Baptist church, their Methodist church tomorrow morning with rifles slung over their shoulders."