Maine MAGA parent silenced at school board meeting during speech opposing trans athletes in girls sports

A school board meeting in Maine’s capital city of Augusta on Wednesday night featured a contentious interaction between a parent in a “MAGA” hat and the school board president over the state’s ongoing controversy over trans athlete inclusion in girls’ sports. Augusta School Board Chair Martha Witham cut off local parent Nick Blanchard while he discussed the controversial issue and a petition he launched to have Cony Middle and High School Principal Kim Liscomb removed from her position, as seen in footage of the meeting. Liscomb is currently the president of the Maine Principals’ Association (MPA), which supports transgender athletes’ participation in school sports based on gender identity and has been a subject of scrutiny by President Donald Trump’s administration over the issue. Blanchard, who showed up to the meeting in a “MAGA” hat and a T-shirt of Gov.Janet Mills that read, “You’re fired,” started his speech by praising the six of the seven members of the board who voted to adopt the 2020 interpretation of Title IX that did not allow trans athletes to compete as girls.Blanchard also condemned the board member who voted against it, which prompted the first interruption by Witham.“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 began.Witham then cut him off, saying, “I’m sorry, but negative comments will not be allowed.”Blanchard then proceeded to discuss his petition to have Liscomb removed. “This petition is asking … if you the school board members will put up a vote,” Blanchard began before being cut off again by Witham. Witham told Blanchard that his statements would “not be tolerated” and warned him that he would be asked to step down from the podium if he continued making “defamatory remarks.”When Blanchard asked how his remarks were “defamatory,” Witham responded by saying “I don�...