Listen to Texas Mayor's Response When CNN Asks If There Was 'Concern' About Hosting Muhammad Cartoon Contest

Update 6:35 a.m. EDT:

NEW: @GarlandPD has scheduled an update on the latest developments at 10 a.m. at the Garland Police Department.

— CBSDFW (@CBSDFW) May 4, 2015

Garland PD spokesperson: There was a lot of misinformation tonight about the shooting and potential bomb scare on social media.

— Brian New (@BrianNewCBS) May 4, 2015

The all clear was given but we still don't know what the big boom indicates.. Waiting for more @NBCDFW

— Jocelyn Lockwood (@JocelynNBC5) May 4, 2015

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After two gunmen were killed after opening fire outside a free speech event in Garland, Texas, the mayor of the city was asked by CNN whether there “was some concern” about hosting the event, which featured a Muhammad cartoon contest.

“It wasn’t at a school,” Mayor Douglas Athas said, correcting the CNN anchor. “It was at a school-owned building, it was a special events center…and they do rent it to the public. Events are held there all the time. This group wanted to rent it. There was concern, which is why he had heightened security in the area.”

Then the mayor explained that the city is tasked with upholding the U.S. Constitution.

“We all swear to uphold the Constitution, free speech, free assembly, and in this case perhaps, free religion,” Athas said. “And so they were welcome to use the building.”

The free speech event was planned by Pamela Geller, president of the American Freedom Defense Initiative. Athas said the reports he's received suggest most of the people who attended the event were from out of state.

The Muhammad Art Exhibit and Cartoon Contest was shut down when gunfire erupted outside the building. One Garland ISD security officer was shot in the ankle and the two suspects were shot dead.

(H/T: Right Scoop)

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