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Texas State Rep. demands Muslims declare allegiance to U.S. on day honoring Islam

"We will see how long they stay in my office," Rep. Molly White said of Texas' Muslim community.

By Matt Bradwell

AUSTIN, Texas, Jan. 30 (UPI) -- Texas State Rep. Molly White has come under fire after posting a charged Facebook message in which the newly-elected Republican demanded Muslims visiting Austin for Texas Muslim Capitol Day declare their allegiance to the United States before entering her office.

"Today is Texas Muslim Capital day [sic] in Austin," White's controversial post began.

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"I did leave an Israeli flag on the reception desk in my office with instructions to staff to ask representatives from the Muslim community to renounce Islamic terrorist groups and publicly announce allegiance to America and our laws. We will see how long they stay in my office."

The Council of American-Islamic Relations, who started Texas Muslim Capitol Day in 2003, wrote to Texas House Speaker Joe Straus asking for an ethics investigation into White. Although Straus, also a Republican, declined to launch an ethics investigation, he publicly condemned White's Facebook post and said her actions "reflect poorly" on Texas state government.

"The Texas Capitol belongs to all the people of this state," Straus said in a statement.

"Legislators have a responsibility to treat all visitors just as we expect to be treated -- with dignity and respect. Anything else reflects poorly on the entire body and distracts from the very important work in front of us."

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White's incendiary statement also triggered immediate backlash on Facebook, with users calling White "clueless," "a bigot" and comparing her to Muslim extremists. White's staff has begun deleting negative comments, and White responded to her public condemnation by refusing to apologize.

"I do not apologize for my comments above," she wrote. "If you love America, obey our laws and condemn Islamic terrorism then I embrace you as a fellow American. If not, then I do not."

Although Texas boasts the United State's eighth largest Muslim population, Texas Muslim Capitol Day has been subject to frequent disruptions from openly anti-Muslim white extremists promoting culturally and racially charged messages.

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