May 4, 2015
AJC condemned the shooting attack outside a Garland, Texas, arena where a controversial cartoon exhibit on the Prophet Muhammad was taking place. One security guard was wounded before police quickly responded and shot dead the two gunmen.
One of the gunmen, according to ABC News, was Elton Simpson, of Phoenix, who the FBI had suspected since 2007 of supporting jihadist groups. The other shooter reportedly was Simpson's roommate.
"Violence is an inexcusable form of protest no matter how provocative the target of the attackers," said AJC Executive Director David Harris. "We praise the police for moving quickly to prevent further casualties."
The cartoon exhibit and contest were organized by the openly anti-Muslim American Freedom Defense Initiative, an organization which has sponsored outrageously provocative ad campaigns in major American cities.
The Texas incident is reminiscent of recent attacks in Europe, including, most recently, the fatal terrorist assaults against Charlie Hebdo in Paris in January and, the next month, at a free-speech event in Copenhagen.
"In America, we are blessed to live in a society that celebrates freedom of speech, including speech that some might find deeply offensive. The response to such language should be open discussion and debate, but never a resort to violence," said Harris.
