A peaceful gathering for Muslims at the Texas State Capitol on Tuesday turned into chaos when failed Republican candidate Valentina Gomez stormed the microphone with a hate-filled rant.
Texas Muslim Capitol Day is an annual event where Muslims gather to rally, pray, meet local officials, and share a lunch together. But this year, the event was disrupted when Gomez took the mic and called Prophet Muhammad a “pedophile.” According to Robert Downen, a senior writer for Texas Monthly, Gomez “just charged the mic to call Muhammad a pedophile,” while two men in the crowd held signs labeling Muslims as “unclean” and shouted at children.
Downen also shared a photo of these men, who were wearing t-shirts with more offensive messages targeting Prophet Muhammad.
The event, which is part of a larger tradition in Texas where various groups hold “Days at the Capitol” to advocate for their causes, was meant to be a moment of unity and prayer. But Gomez’s actions shattered that peace, turning the day into one filled with hostility and shouting.
In a tweet, Downen revealed that Texas Muslim Capitol Day had been slated to be honored with a resolution on the Texas House floor, just like other groups who have had similar recognition. “Two state reps told me this Muslim group was supposed to get on the Texas House floor as part of a resolution honoring today Muslim Day at the Capitol (as is done for all sorts of groups),” Downen said. However, for reasons still unclear, that resolution did not proceed.
The disruption left many attendees shaken, as Gomez’s actions overshadowed what was supposed to be a day of advocacy and community building. The event, intended to honor and empower Muslims in Texas, quickly spiraled into a scene of confrontation and hate.
Watch the video of the incident below:
Muslims are holding a rally at the Texas Capitol as part of their civic engagement day. Valentina Gomez just charged the mic to call Muhammad a pedophile, and there are two dudes holding signs that call Muslims unclean, yelling at children. #txlege pic.twitter.com/VGPPcY9mSI
— Robert Downen (@RobertDownen_) April 29, 2025
