Armed counter-protesters outnumber attendees at Frisco City Hall rally
A social media post advertising a “Rally Against Rednecks” outside Frisco City Hall drew about 50 counter-protesters Tuesday night, including some who carried firearms and displayed white supremacist messaging.
The flier posted on Facebook promoted an event organized by Zul Mohamed, of Carrollton, as “an evening dedicated to celebrating the contributions of our local Asian community.” It also urged people to speak out against “trailer-park trash yokels,” language that sparked backlash online and became a rallying point for counter-protesters.
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Mohamed arrived outside City Hall around 7:15 p.m., where counter-protesters quickly closed in and shouted “USA, USA” and “You will not replace us.”
A truck parked nearby displayed the words “White Lives Matter,” along with photos of white Americans who had been killed, including Austin Metcalf and Charlie Kirk. Another digital sign warned of what it described as a Hindu takeover of Texas.
Some counter-protesters said they came because they believed the flier insulted white residents. Others said they were there to oppose immigration, Islam or demographic changes in Frisco.
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Eric Spaude, 61, drove from Tyler after hearing about the event through the Texas Nationalist Movement, a group that supports Texas secession.
Spaude said he came to stand up for white Americans and oppose what he sees as growing Muslim influence in Texas.
“Islam, the cancer, is going to take away the life and liberty of the next generations,” Spaude said.
Emily Shaffer, 18, said she came after seeing the “Rally Against Rednecks” post. Shaffer, who attended Frisco High School, said the flier felt like an attack on white residents.
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“It kind of hurt that somebody was coming into our country and saying that we’re the problem,” Shaffer said.
Shaffer said white residents helped build Frisco from a farm town into the affluent suburb it is today and said Mohamed’s post unfairly dismissed them.
“We’re also your neighbors, we’re also doctors, we’re also lawyers,” Shaffer said.
Josh Meek, a board member on the city’s community development corporation, said the counter-protesters outside City Hall did not represent his values as a Frisco resident.
“A lot of the people here are advocating against American culture,” Meek said. “America is a melting pot.” Meek said protesters were “riding on Frisco’s coattails,” given the economic success the city has had in recent years and trying to bring negative attention.
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Mohamed’s planned protest came after months of public comments at Frisco City Council meetings about alleged H-1B visa fraud, South Asian residents and a proposed mosque.
Inside Frisco City Hall, Mayor Jeff Cheney told the audience in the council chambers that the city would not hold citizens’ input at Tuesday’s meeting unless it was an item already listed on the agenda.
“It’s moved beyond a First Amendment issue,” Cheney said. “It’s become a safety issue for this community.”
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Cheney said residents could still contact council members directly.
Mohamed has also drawn scrutiny for his criminal history. He was previously convicted in Denton County on felony voter fraud charges tied to his 2020 run for Carrollton mayor and has been released on bond while appealing the case.