By now, we’ve all seen the video. A woman storms a stage at the Texas State Capitol. She grabs the mic. Then she launches into an anti-Muslim tirade that feels like it was ripped from the darkest corners of the internet. That woman is Valentina Gomez, a former Republican candidate and current far-right provocateur. Her target? A peaceful civic engagement event. It was organized by Muslim Texans—families, elders, students. They gathered to do something as basic and patriotic as participating in their state’s democratic process.

Let’s be clear: this wasn’t “free speech.” This was a hate-fueled invasion.

Who Is Valentina Gomez?

Born in Colombia in 1999 and raised in Jersey City after immigrating to the U.S. in 2009, Gomez first made waves as a real estate investor. Her name started bouncing around extremist forums. This occurred when she dipped her toes into far-right politics. In 2024, she ran for Missouri Secretary of State. She lost badly—6th place out of 8 contenders, pulling just 7.4% of the vote. But losing didn’t stop her. If anything, it radicalized her public persona even more.

In one now-infamous campaign video, she staged a mock execution of a hooded immigrant. She demanded public executions for undocumented people accused of violent crimes. That alone should’ve made her persona non grata in any serious political conversation. But instead, it gave her a growing online following and a megaphone she’s clearly still using.

The Capitol Incident: A Performance of Hate

The event at the Texas Capitol wasn’t political theatre. It was civic life. Local Muslim communities were participating in democracy—meeting lawmakers, voicing concerns, and encouraging young Muslims to engage in public life.

Gomez barged in and grabbed the microphone.

What followed was a rant so vile, it bordered on parody—except it wasn’t. She called Islam a religion of “rape, incest, and pedophilia.” She mocked Muslim prayer by referring to the Kaaba as a “stupid rock.” She labeled the Prophet Muhammad a “false prophet.” She claimed Muslims were “taking over Texas” and that America was a “Christian nation” where Islam “has no place.”

This wasn’t coded dog-whistle politics. It was a bullhorn for bigotry.

Why This Matters (A Lot)

Let’s not sugarcoat this: Gomez’s actions are a direct assault on the constitutional right to freedom of religion. Her rhetoric echoes some of the darkest chapters in modern history. In these times, minorities were dehumanized. They were painted as invaders and cast out as existential threats.

We’ve seen this playbook before. It starts with words, escalates to threats, and too often ends in violence.

Civil rights groups like the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) immediately condemned the attack. This is no coincidence. They called it what it is: an attempt to intimidate and silence. The message from Gomez wasn’t just to the Muslims in that room—it was to all of us watching. It said: “I get to decide who belongs in this country, and if I don’t like your faith, you’re out.”

That’s not patriotism. That’s fascism dressed in red, white, and blue.

The Dangerous New Normal

What’s chilling is not just the hate itself—it’s how normalized it’s becoming. Gomez later posted the entire video to X. It was formerly known as Twitter. She proudly tagged it with a call to “end the Islamization of America.” She’s not alone. There’s a growing ecosystem of far-right influencers, failed candidates, and grifters who thrive on these moments. They don’t need to win elections. They just need your clicks, your rage, and your silence.

So What Do We Do?

We don’t look away. We don’t scroll past. We call it out for what it is.

If we want a democracy that’s worth saving, we must defend the people participating in it. This is especially true for those who do so peacefully and respectfully, even in the face of hate. That includes Muslim Americans, who’ve long been told to prove their patriotism in ways no one else is asked to.

And here’s the real kicker: the Muslims at that event? They responded with dignity. No shouting. No brawling. No hate back. Just composure. That’s what strength looks like. Not storming a mic. Not spitting venom. Strength is showing up anyway, knowing you’ll be hated just for being there—and doing it anyway.

Final Thought

Valentina Gomez might have grabbed the mic, but she doesn’t speak for Texas. She doesn’t speak for America. She definitely doesn’t speak for the millions of people. These are people who believe that freedom of religion still matters. They also believe that decency and shared dignity are important.

Hate is loud. But we don’t have to be silent.