The state’s ongoing controversy over the inclusion of trans athletes in girls’ sports led to a heated exchange between the president of the school board and a parent wearing a “MAGA” hat during Wednesday night’s school board meeting in Augusta, the capital of Maine.
In the meeting, Augusta School Board Chair Martha Witham interrupted local parent Nick Blanchard as he was discussing the contentious issue and a petition he started to have Kim Liscomb, the principal of Cony Middle and High School, fired.
Liscomb is presently the president of the Maine Principals’ Association (MPA), which promotes transgender athletes’ participation in school sports based on gender identification and has been a target of attention by President Donald Trump’s administration over the issue.
Arriving at the meeting wearing a “MAGA” hat and a Gov. Janet Mills T-shirt that said, “You’re fired,” Blanchard began by thanking the six out of seven board members who voted to accept the 2020 interpretation of Title IX, which prohibited trans athletes from competing as females.
Witham interrupted first because Blanchard also denounced the board member who voted against it.
“Good job and thank you to the six members that voted to go back to the 2020 interpretation of Title IX, and shame on the one board member that voted no,” Blanchard said.
“I’m sorry, but negative comments will not be allowed,” Witham interrupted.
Blanchard then went on to talk about his request to have Liscomb taken out.
Blanchard started to say, “This petition is asking … if you the school board members will put up a vote,” but Witham interrupted her once more.
Witham warned Blanchard that his words would “not be tolerated” and threatened to remove him from the stage if he persisted in making “defamatory remarks.”
In response to Blanchard’s question on how his comments were “defamatory,” Witham said, “I don’t have to explain it to you.”
“These comments will not be tolerated at the meeting directed toward us or to anybody else in this room,” stated Witham.
Then Blanchard consented to continue his statement without mentioning Liscomb by name.
Blanchard started to say, “So, as most of you know, someone who is the president of the Maine Principal’s Association,” but Witham cut him off for the last time.
“Nope, enough near. “I apologize, Mr. Blanchard. You’re done,” Witham remarked, directing him to leave the podium.
Blanchard said, “Communist China right here!” as he left.
Since February, many federal agencies have put pressure on Maine to change its present policies that allow trans inclusion in women’s and girls’ sports, making the state a focal point in the national discussion.
The state’s money was frozen by the U.S. Department of Agriculture this week, and the Maine Department of Education, the MPA, and Greely High School have already been referred to the Justice Department by the Department of Health and Human Services.
The U.S. Department of Education has given the state until Friday to change its existing policy or risk another referral to the justice department.
Source: foxnews
