As an anti-Muslim hate rally was planned near its doors on Saturday, the East Plano Islamic Center (EPIC) chose compassion over confrontation — continuing its public food drive and daily prayers, and serving neighbors in need without pause.

While hostility gathered outside, volunteers at the Plano, Texas mosque focused on distributing food to the wider community, embodying a core Islamic principle: responding to harm with service.

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The Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) praised EPIC’s response, describing it as a testament to the mosque’s discipline, patience, and enduring commitment to its neighbors of all faiths.

“We applaud EPIC and members of the Plano Muslim community for the discipline and patience they have shown in advance of this hate rally,” CAIR National Deputy Director Edward Ahmed Mitchell said in a statement.

“The fact that the mosque is carrying on with its weekend food drive for the general public as usual is a testament to this house of worship and the positive role it plays in supporting its neighbors of all faiths.”

CAIR also commended local law enforcement for coordinating with mosque leadership to keep worshippers and volunteers safe during the planned rally.

“We commend local law enforcement for working with the community to keep the community safe. We encourage all elected officials to condemn the anti-Muslim extremism that Greg Abbott, Ken Paxton and others have fomented,” Mitchell added.

“We urge all community members to follow the instructions of EPIC leadership and law enforcement authorities, ignore the provocations of these racist and bigoted losers and carry on with their worship and lives as usual.”

For EPIC, the food drive was more than an act of charity — it was an affirmation of identity.

In the face of hate, the mosque chose to feed, pray, and give — a living reminder that charity remains one of the strongest responses to fear.