A middle school in Achille, Oklahoma was shut down on Tuesday and Wednesday of this week after potential threats to a 12-year-old student were made online—by other parents. The student, Maddie, had been allowed to use the staff restrooms for some time since she initially was accused of trying to peep at other students in the restroom.
For the last couple of years, Maddie hadn’t experienced any other issues, until attending a recently re-opened school where she wasn’t informed of the location of the staff restrooms so she used the girl’s room. According to KXII-TV, a parent found out of the transgender student using the girls bathroom and took to the private Achille ISD Parents Group on Facebook to sound off in outrage.
According to reports, parents began referring to Maddie as ‘it’ and ‘thing’ while others suggested she should be stabbed or beat up. Another person in the group said it was ‘hunting season’ for transgender people.
The Washington Post reports what some of the parents have been saying online:
Jamie Crenshaw:
Heads up parents of 5th thru 7th grade girls. The transgender is already using the girls bathroom. We have been told how the school has gone above and beyond to make sure he has his own restroom yet he is still using the girls. REALLY . . . Looks like it’s gonna be a long year.
“We have made school board meetings over this situation last year but nothing seems to be changing,” the post continued. “This is the same kid that got an [sic] trouble as soon as he transferred two years ago for looking over the stalls in the girls bathroom. Enough is enough.
Another post read:
Why are parents letting their kids be transgender? Parents and Churches need to shut this down, the Bible says God created man, and woman . . . not any transgender bs. Hell with new laws and new rules, this is what our future is if WE don’t stop it.
And another:
If he wants to be a female make him a female. A good sharp knife will do the job really quick.
Maddie’s mother, Brandy Rose, said:
That's a threat against her life–that's scary. These are adults making threats– I don't understand it.
She's an awesome kid. To see any fear in her, I can't explain how bad that hurts me for them to hurt her.
She's been living as female for years– she started at Achille as Maddie. We had no problems when we first started.
As a precaution to Maddie and other students and staff, Bryan County Sheriff decided to close the campus on Monday and Tuesday of this week. The superintendent of schools agreed, but shared that he and the school cannot control what others post on the internet.
Rose has filed a protective order against one of the parents in the group, but the FBI is looking further into the postings to see if they can validate a hate crime.
The Facebook group has since been deleted.
A demonstration in support of Maddie will be held on Wednesday morning outside the school.
h/t: KXII-TV, The Washington Post
first it shows the lack of
first it shows the lack of education from parents, there is no rape caused by a transgender person, also to pick on a child shows the low iq of the people and their posts… such hate. also do you go to church , its called tolerance and understanding, and respect. this is why there is hate in the world because people dont educate themselves. it does not affect you in any way at all. Facebook . shame on you this posting should have been flagged and brought down within a an hour, this is not free speech this is hate insighting danger of threats and beatings to a child, shame on you.
Sad to see such Facebook
Sad to see such Facebook posts from so-called "parents". And to think they are teaching their own children to practice prejudice, bigotry, hatred and violence. Uneducated ignorance, like what our current presidential administration also practices daily… pathetic.
This is what happens when
This is what happens when white trash is given a voice.
It’s disgusting that an adult
It's disgusting that an adult would threaten an innocent child.