La Porte mosque proposal sparks online backlash. Here's why worshippers called police

The only mosque for miles around in Deer Park sits in a small strip mall, nestled between a smoke shop and a Vietnamese restaurant, its entrance marked by a prayer in Arabic.

A handful of men, cordoned off from female worshippers by a curtain, kneel silently on green carpet inside. More worshippers arrive as Friday midday worship begins. By the time the imam finishes his talk, at least 50 men have gathered. Stragglers crowd around the entrance and sit cross-legged along the walls.

Since 2017, this strip mall has been home to what organizers say is the only mosque in Deer Park or nearby La Porte. The group is growing and ready to build its own space, according to leaders - but its plans have recently been met with a wave of pushback. 

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The volunteer-run community, called the La Porte Islamic Center, bought land in La Porte about four years ago and is still fundraising to pay off the $600,000 purchase. They have not yet applied for permits with the city or begun any construction on a new building, according to community leaders and La Porte's mayor.

In early July, Vince Vandergraff, who says he grew up in La Porte, started a Change.org petition seeking to stop any construction of a La Porte mosque. As of Monday, the petition had garnered over 1,600 signatures. The new mosque has also been a talked-about topic on local Facebook groups.

Vandergraff's petition cited a range of concerns about the potential mosque and highlighted mosque leaders' plans for the building to seat 1,000 people. Vandergraff worried that a mosque that big would increase traffic, strain local resources, and impact "social harmony." 

"The cultural fabric of La Porte has been woven over years of shared history and community-building," the petition read. It urged city leaders to "re-evaluate the necessity and implications" of building a mosque in a city of about 38,000. 

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In a Tuesday statement to the Houston Chronicle, La Porte mayor Rick Helton didn't say whether the city would try to block the construction of the mosque.

"I've been pleased to have the opportunity to visit with a number of residents who have seen the online discussions and share their perspectives with us," he wrote. "These conversations are welcome and are a part of a healthy local government."

The petition, written by Vandergraff with the assistance of artificial intelligence, said it was "not a plea against any religion" and supported "freedom of religion." But in a Monday email to the Chronicle, Vandergraff said he "would not call Islam a religion at all." 

"Islam poses a threat to every community it enters," he wrote. "They want to replace our laws with their own," he said of Muslim people. 

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Of the more than 20 comments under the Change.org petition, most denigrated Islam, fearing an "Islamic takeover" or saying "There is no place for Islam in Texas !!"

Neil M, a volunteer leader of the La Porte Islamic Center, told the Chronicle on Friday that after the petition was posted, someone called the mosque and used racial slurs against him and another volunteer, saying the volunteer should "go back to Bangladesh." He requested the Chronicle use only his first name and last initial due to concerns about his family's safety.

In his 25 years living in Deer Park, Neil said that was the first time someone had called him a "derogatory name." He said a complaint was filed with the Deer Park Police Department to document the incident. The department did not respond to phone and email requests for comment.

Politicians weigh in

The Muslim group's plans to expand have already drawn criticism from at least one candidate for elected office, as warnings about "Sharia law" continue to dominate Texas Republican messaging this year. 

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Pastor Richard Vega, who's running for Precinct 2 Harris County Commissioner, referenced plans for a La Porte mosque in a campaign ad video earlier this month. "LA PORTE IS DEMANDING ANSWERS!" he began his video caption, which mentioned plans for what he called a "massive Islamic center." Vega did not respond to multiple phone requests and an emailed request for comment. 

In the ad, Vega bashed his Democratic opponent, incumbent Commissioner Adrian Garcia, for telling the Muslim community: "I've got your back." He also blasted Garcia for attending a Ramadan event with the Council on American-Islamic Relations, the largest Muslim civil rights advocacy group in the United States. 

Gov. Greg Abbott declared in a news release last year that CAIR was a terrorist organization, and later asked Attorney General Ken Paxton to shutter its branch in Texas.

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CAIR leaders have maintained that they regularly fight terrorism, including by alerting the FBI to a potential threat against President Donald Trump during his first term. 

In a statement to the Chronicle, Garcia said he respected religious freedom and remembered when Catholics in his community faced religious discrimination.

"Muslims across Texas, including those who live in Precinct 2, have faced horrible attacks from statewide leaders and political hacks this campaign season," he wrote. "So when I say I have their backs, it's not only my job, it's the right thing to do."

Overcoming misunderstandings

Neil, who also lived in La Porte for almost eight years, said the backlash to the proposed mosque doesn't reflect the Deer Park and La Porte community he knows. He chalked it up to election-season "race-baiting," and doubted that a new mosque would cause major traffic or other problems.

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The La Porte Islamic Center group typically sees about 60 people for their main Friday worship, he said. Neil didn't think that number was likely to grow very quickly. "We live here presently; it hasn't affected or changed anything in 10 years," he said. 

Imam Abdul Wahed, who gave Friday's sermon, encouraged those who feared Islam to come to a mosque and talk to Muslim people in person.

"We believe relationships and personal interaction help overcome misunderstandings," said Wahed. "You can only see the truth when you are in person and you are meeting people and you are listening to their teachings."

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