PLANO — The Plano City Council called a special meeting for Sunday to discuss the future of a fellow council member who drew swift criticism earlier this week for sharing an anti-Islam post on social media.

Council member Tom Harrison deleted the post and issued an apology Wednesday, but not before Mayor Harry LaRosiliere called for his immediate resignation during a news conference that day.

The mayor reiterated his call on Thursday night at the annual Plano State of the City address, which was marked by about a dozen protesters chanting and holding signs that read "Hate has no home here."

"We have policies that are clear about non-discrimination so that everyone in our city really feels at home," LaRosiliere told the packed crowd at the Courtyard Theater at the beginning of his remarks. "When that post came out, it was inappropriate and it was not in line with who we are.

"We want to make sure if you are in Plano, you feel that you belong. That must be embodied by the privileged eight that sit on that council chamber," LaRosiliere said.

Harrison, 73, did not attend Thursday's State of the City, an annual event that highlighted the city's achievements in 2017 and look ahead to 2018.

Tom Harrison (submitted photo)

A video presentation at the start of the meeting included clips from each council member. When Harrison's video aired, loud boos from the audience drowned out his voice.

Not a 'personal attack'

The furor began Tuesday when Harrison shared a post on his Facebook that stated: "Share if you think Trump should ban Islam in American schools." The video, which includes images of students wearing hijabs in classrooms, came from a Facebook group named, "Joined Hands Across America For Trump."

Harrison deleted the post Wednesday afternoon and issued an apology on his Facebook page that evening, stating that he was not anti-Muslim.

"My intent on inputting this on my personal Facebook page was to emphasize that Christianity is not the only religion being targeted for exclusion in our public school. It was not meant as a personal attack against the Islamic faith," he wrote.

His post continued: "None of us are perfect, and we will all be judged one day by the highest authority. Until then, I ask for forgiveness within the community and acceptance of my sincere apology."

Other council members have since posted messages on their own Facebook pages, calling for unity and celebrating the diversity of Plano.

"Hate speech or discrimination of any type does not belong in Plano as it doesn't fit our core values," Deputy Mayor Pro Tem Ron Kelley wrote.

"We as city leaders have an obligation to welcome individuals from all backgrounds, and it's unacceptable when city leaders choose not to behave in this manner," council member Kayci Prince wrote.

Plano Mayor Harry LaRosiliere (right) delivers the annual State of the City address with emcee Tim Ryan, Fox 4's Good Day Texas anchor, on Thursday at the Courtyard Theater in Plano. (Ashley Landis / Staff Photographer)

'The issue should go away'

Mayor Pro Tem Rick Grady called out the "hateful, intolerable and deplorable Facebook posting."

"This inexcusable and unacceptable posting by a council member has no place in our city and does not represent the values we hold dear in the city of Plano," he wrote. "I stand with our Mayor in calling for an immediate submission of resignation from this council member."

Supporters of Harrison have said that he does not plan to step down. Some have accepted his apology. Others criticized LaRosiliere for joining other mayors last month in boycotting a meeting with President Donald Trump over a federal crackdown on so-called sanctuary cities.

Allan Samara of Plano told NBC5 Thursday night that the uproar over Harrison's post was "made up" and that LaRosiliere's call for him to resign was political.

"He's apologized for it, and we think the issue should go away," Samara said of Harrison. "But there's an organized attempt right now to aggravate the situation, and we don't really like it."

1 / 4Rania Alahmad (left) and Sabina Ibraheem pray in the hallway before Plano's annual State of the City address, delivered by Mayor Harry LaRosiliere on Thursday at the Courtyard Theater in Plano. The meeting was held a day after the mayor insisted on the resignation of City Councilman Tom Harrison because Harrison shared an anti-Muslim video on Twitter. Harrison apologized and removed the post, but has not yet resigned. Harrison did not attend the meeting.(Ashley Landis / Staff Photographer) 2 / 4Demonstrator Ranya Rahim holds a sign outside Plano's annual State of the City address on Thursday at the Courtyard Theater in Plano. The meeting was held a day after the mayor insisted on the resignation of City Councilman Tom Harrison because Harrison shared an anti-Muslim video on Twitter. Harrison apologized and removed the post, but has not yet resigned. Harrison did not attend the meeting. (Ashley Landis / Staff Photographer) 3 / 4Charles Hermes (center) shouts in opposition during a video of City Councilman Tom Harrison during Plano's annual State of the City address on Thursday at the Courtyard Theater in Plano. The meeting was held a day after the mayor insisted on the Harrison's resignation because he shared an anti-Muslim video on Twitter. Harrison apologized and removed the post, but has not yet resigned. Harrison did not attend the meeting. (Ashley Landis / Staff Photographer) 4 / 4Rania Alahmad (left) and Sabina Ibraheem pray in the hallway before Plano's annual State of the City address, delivered by Mayor Harry LaRosiliere on Thursday at the Courtyard Theater in Plano. The meeting was held a day after the mayor insisted on the resignation of City Councilman Tom Harrison because Harrison shared an anti-Muslim video on Twitter. Harrison apologized and removed the post, but has not yet resigned. Harrison did not attend the meeting. (Ashley Landis / Staff Photographer)

'Hate has no place'

Sunday's council meeting starts at noon. The agenda calls for the council to go into closed session "to deliberate the appointment, employment, evaluation, reassignment, duties, discipline, or dismissal of a public officer or employee, re: Council Member, Place 7."

The council will return to open session to take any action that results from that closed-door meeting. Council members do not have the authority to dismiss an elected official. If Harrison does not resign, the only other way he could be removed is through a recall election, which requires a petition signed by at least 2,791 registered Plano voters.

Azhar Azeez, president of the Islamic Society of North America, applauded the mayor's actions and called Harrison's post a "slap in the face."

"Hate has no place in the great city of Plano," said Azeez, who attended Thursday's State of the City.

Shepton High School freshman Minha Virk was among those with signs Thursday protesting Harrison's actions.

"I was very hurt that someone supposed to be standing for all of us is not standing for the Muslim community," she said.