A Draw Muhammad contest intended to offend Muslims worldwide drew gunfire instead of gaiety, leaving two irate shooters dead and questions about free speech versus hate speech burning in the state of Texas.
Texan officials say that, although there had been “no credible threats” concerning last night’s dubious art exhibition at the Curtis Culwell Center in Garland, as a precaution a large security presence was provided.
The shooting occurred close to the end of festivities when two unidentified men drove up to the building’s entrance and opened fire on security guards, one of whom was hit in the leg.
Both gunmen were killed in the resulting shootout, and their vehicle quarantined on fears it might have been rigged with bombs. The conference center itself was also promptly evacuated.
The derailed Draw Muhammad contest was organized by the infamous Islamic hate-group American Freedom Defense Initiative who, predictably, called Sunday’s armed assault “an attack on freedom of the press.”
AFDI is the brainchild of Muslim hater Pamela Geller, a blogger who has drawn criticism in the past from religious leaders and civil liberty groups alike for her hate speech and intentionally provocative anti-Islam rhetoric.
First prize for the “best cartoon” of the Prophet Muhammad -- who Islamic tradition forbids the portrayal of -- was supposed to be worth 10-grand, but it’s not clear yet who, if anyone, is the winner.
