Houston protesters clash outside Islamic convention
HOUSTON -- Tempers flared Saturday when more than 100 protesters and counterprotesters squared off outside a large Islamic convention at the George R. Brown Convention Center.
A Texas Patriot Network member ran across barriers erected by police around noon and began punching a counterprotester outside the 55th annual Islamic Society of North America convention. Three people were handcuffed, briefly detained and released under the condition they leave the protests for the day, said L.J. Satterwhite, assistant chief of homeland security for the Houston Police Department.
We want to make sure that whatever happens, it happens peacefully and no one gets harmed, Satterwhite said. We have been very blessed to avoid a lot of the problems that other cities have seen. We want to keep that track record going.
The convention, which runs through Monday, will draw thousands of Muslims to downtown for talks, prayers, workshops, arts, entertainment and festivities.
Read more: https://www.chron.com/news/houston-texas/houston/article/Houston-protestors-clash-outside-Islamic-13199567.php
Members of the Black Panthers carry weapons as they counterprotest against other protesters outside the Islamic Society of North America Convention at the George R. Brown Convention Center, 1001 Avenida de las Americas, Saturday, Sept. 1, 2018, in Houston. Photo: Melissa Phillip