A largely Muslim group rallying for religious tolerance in Texas was met by a small but vocal group of protesters on Thursday.
The Texas Muslim Capitol Day event was repeatedly interrupted by people proclaiming themselves to be Christians and demanding that Muslims leave the country and go to the Middle East.
The rally got off to a rough start, with the opening speaker being bum rushed at the podium.
"I proclaim the name of the Lord Jesus Christ over the capitol of Texas," a Christian activist from Michigan said, according to Reuters. "I stand against Islam."
Ruth Nasrullah of the Houston branch of the Council of American-Islamic Relations - who was to provide the opening remarks - was shocked.
"As soon as I got to the lectern, that woman came and grabbed the microphone out of my hands. It made us feel a little unsafe," she admitted.
As the group of about 600 sang the national anthem and began with the programme, the protesters shouted "Go home. You ain't going to be happy here," and other intolerant messages.
Reports indicate that there are about half a million Muslims in Texas. Republican state Representative Molly White issued a message to those that wished to visit her office.
"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," she wrote on her Facebook message.
Some Islamic activist organisations have reported an increase in anti-Muslim activity since the attack at Charlie Hebdo in Paris earlier this month.
"This reinforces that rhetoric and propaganda about Muslims is really gaining traction," Nasrullah said of the Austin protestors.
