Full Breakdown
Grand Prairie Cancels Eid Celebration After Governor Threatens State Funding
5/8/2026, 1:24:52 AM
Cancellation at Epic Waters
The City of Grand Prairie announced that the third-annual DFW Epic Eid celebration, slated for June 1, 2026 at the Epic Waters Indoor Waterpark, will not take place. The decision followed a formal warning from Texas Governor Greg Abbott’s office that the city could lose state funding if the event proceeded.
Background & Legal Context
Epic Waters is a $88 million indoor waterpark owned by Grand Prairie and financed through a voter-approved 0.25 % sales tax. The facility receives state public-safety grants, and Governor Abbott cited House Bill 4211—legislation prohibiting religiously exclusive communities—as the legal basis for his objection to a “Muslim-only” gathering at a publicly funded venue.
Key Actors
- Greg Abbott – Governor of Texas, author of the funding threat.
- Ron Jensen – Mayor of Grand Prairie (identified as Ron Jensen in most reports).
- Dr. Aminah Knight – Educator and organizer of the Eid event.
Timeline of the Dispute
- Early May 2026 – Promotional flyer posted describing the event as “Muslim only” with a modest-dress requirement.
- May 6 2026 – Abbott’s office sent a letter warning that the city would lose $530,000 in state grants unless the event was canceled by May 11.
- May 6 evening – Grand Prairie issued a statement confirming the cancellation.
- June 1 2026 – Date the event was originally scheduled to occur.
Funding & Numbers
The governor’s threat targeted more than $530,000 in public-safety grants that the city currently receives. Epic Waters, built with an $88 million budget, also generates revenue from private rentals. The 2025 Eid celebration attracted over 600 participants.
Official Statements & Responses
- Governor’s office: argued that a city-owned pool advertised as exclusive to a single religion violates state and federal civil-rights statutes.
- City of Grand Prairie: said the cancellation was made “in the best interest of the City.”
- Dr. Knight: described the gathering as privately organized and privately funded, emphasizing a “modest-dress-only” policy that welcomes non-Muslims who comply.
Criticism & Opposition
Civil-rights advocates and some community members supported Abbott’s stance, labeling the original flyer discriminatory. Dr. Knight and her supporters countered that the “Muslim-only” wording applied only to a private group and that updated materials invited anyone adhering to the dress code.
Conflicting Reports & Gaps
Sources differ on the mayor’s name, with some citing Ron Jensen and others Scott Jensen. The threatened amount is described as “more than $500,000” in some accounts and precisely $530,000 in others. The exact timing of Abbott’s letter is consistently reported as May 6, but precise timestamps vary.
Verbatim Quotes
- “An event at a city-owned pool that was publicly and indiscriminately advertised as ’Whites only’ would surely violate the Constitution.” — Greg Abbott, Texas Governor
- “That’s religious discrimination. It’s unconstitutional.” — Greg Abbott, Texas Governor (X post)
- “Amina Knight released the following statement to FOX 4 on the event's cancellation: I am deeply disappointed that DFW Epic Eid has been canceled.” — Dr. Aminah Knight, Organizer
- “After further review and in the best interest of the City of Grand Prairie, the June 1 Eid event at Epic Waters Indoor Waterpark has been canceled.” — City of Grand Prairie (official statement)
What’s Next
Dr. Knight announced plans for a Fourth-of-July interfaith gathering titled “The Great American Cookout.” The city’s future use of Epic Waters for private, religiously themed rentals will remain subject to state-grant compliance, and the dispute may shape municipal policies on public-facility rentals statewide.
