HOUSTON, Texas (KTRK) — Houston Mayor John Whitmire recently found himself in the midst of a controversy at the “Houston Iftar” 25th Annual Ramadan Dinner when a group of pro-Palestine demonstrators interrupted his keynote address.
The group, led by Houston for Palestinian Liberation, donned red latex gloves to symbolize the countless Palestinians who have lost their lives in Israel’s ongoing bombardment of Gaza. As Whitmire began his speech at the Bayou City Event Center, the demonstrators stood up, unfurled a banner declaring “No ceasefire, no iftar,” and started chanting pro-Palestine slogans.
According to reports from ABC13’s news partners at the Houston Chronicle, the demonstrators were calling on the mayor to support a ceasefire in Gaza, citing his previous refusal to do so as the reason why some Muslim leaders and organizations had chosen to boycott the Iftar event.
Despite the disruption, Whitmire continued with his address, urging unity and decrying hate. “Hate is surrounding us, and the only way we’re going to stop hate is not to let people divide us. We have to be united as Houstonians,” he stated.
Security eventually cleared the protesters from the room, allowing the event to proceed without further interruption. Whitmire went on to express his commitment to protecting places of worship within Houston’s Muslim community, promising to implement measures such as random checks and prevention at local mosques with the help of agencies like the Texas Department of Public Safety.
The “Houston Iftar” event holds significance for Muslims during the holy month of Ramadan, and Mayor Whitmire’s handling of the situation underscored the challenges of navigating sensitive political issues within a diverse and multicultural city like Houston.
As the evening concluded, Whitmire reiterated his support for Houston’s Muslim community and emphasized the importance of standing together in the face of division and hatred.
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