APS Board member receives threat, says ‘hatemonger’ is attacking her
Threat likely related to transgender policy
Albuquerque Public Schools Board member Peggy Muller Aragón walked out her front door late Friday night to find a sign hanging from her car’s side mirror. It read: “Die hateful bitch.”
It was a frightening experience that Muller-Aragón connects to her fight against APS’ recently adopted transgender directive, particularly its controversial rule allowing transgender kids to use restrooms and locker rooms that align with their gender identity.
“This is an attempt to shut me up, to suppress free discourse,” she said Saturday. “I think it is horrible that somebody who is obviously a hatemonger is attacking me at my home, and they are attacking my family and my First Amendment rights.”
Muller-Aragón was in her living room watching TV at 12:15 a.m. when her daughter and son-in-law arrived at the house and saw the cardboard sign. The District 2 board member called police, who responded around 3 a.m. and took a report.
Particularly chilling to Muller-Aragón: The perpetrators clearly know her address and car. Two vehicles were parked at the front of the home, and the sign was placed on hers.
Muller-Aragón said she has to assume that someone has been watching her.
“It is brazen,” she said. “People should not be allowed to do anything so hateful . ... You can’t interpret those three words as anything but threatening.”
This spring, Muller-Aragón received two or three aggressive emails about her stance on transgender issues and took precautions, such as walking to her car with an APS police officer after meetings. But she feels the sign is on another level.
Amber Royster, executive director of LGBT advocacy group Equality New Mexico, condemned all hate speech and threats against people or property.
“Anything like that is completely unacceptable,” Royster said.
Muller-Aragón stressed that
she will not be scared into silence about APS’ new transgender procedural directive, enacted June 8 by Superintendent Raquel Reedy and her leadership team without a board vote.
On Wednesday, APS Board President Dave Peercy said Reedy followed proper procedure, because directives don’t need board approval — they are intended to outline how staff will enforce the board’s policies. The district has included gender identity as a protected category in its nondiscrimination policy since 2005, and the new directive creates rules to shield transgender students from harassment.
The expanded protections allow transgender kids to embrace their gender identity with a new name and gender pronoun, as well as access to restrooms, locker rooms and sports teams where they feel comfortable.
Muller-Aragón argues that Reedy stepped beyond her authority and the board should have weighed in on the directive. On Monday, she will meet with an attorney to investigate possible legal action against it.
“All I am trying to do is bring to light the lawlessness APS is exhibiting right now,” Muller-Aragón said.