Right-wing groups are aiming at a middle school teacher for her support of LGBTQ students, and it’s escalated to the level of bomb threats.
The teacher is the faculty advisor for Medlin Middle School’s gay-straight alliance, called Safe Spaces.
The harassment campaign, which included a post that exposed the names of two current students in Safe Spaces, rose to the point that hoax bomb threats were made to both the school and the teacher’s home.
“On Wednesday, we received notification of a death threat against one of our teachers,” wrote Medlin Middle School Paige Cantrell in a letter sent to parents. “That threat claimed a bomb had been placed at her home – using her specific address – and that a second bomb was placed at our school. We immediately notified the Trophy Club Police Department, which conducted a sweep of both her home and our school, clearing both buildings.”
Cantrell says the FBI is investigating the threat, saying it likely originated far from Northwest ISD, since the perpetrator didn’t realize that this is spring break week.
The school district is fighting back.
“Northwest ISD intends to press charges to the fullest extent of the law for anyone involved in criminal activity for either the bomb threat or harassment campaign,” says Cantrell.
That couuld possibly include Sean Turner, who’s running for mayor of Roanoke. He shared the images of the harassment campaign on his campaign’s Facebook page, including the image (since taken down) that included the unredacted kids’ names.
Turner’s post has garnered more than 230 comments, almost all of which critical towards Turner.
“Like it or not, LGBTQ+ kids exist in the area – and you’re not only doing nothing to protect them by endorsing a hateful social media acount, but endangering them,” Christopher Gronlund replied.
“It is shameful that you amplified hateful comments that resulted in a terror threat,” added Sravan Krishna. “You should take responsibility and withdraw from elections for such a despicable action.”
The outpouring of support for the teacher, which KRLD is not naming at this time out of concern for her safety, has been tremendous.
“You don’t get to bully gay or trans kids into suicide and threaten the lives of their teachers because you don’t want them to exist,” writes Jen Dodd, whose son attends Medlin Middle School, on Facebook. "They do exist. They have a right to live lives free of harassment from you.
Another one expressing support for the teacher is Steve Sprowls, the president of the Northwest ISD board of trustees.
As evidenced by a post he made on Facebook, he’s livid.
“Go look at the definition of terrorism, and explain to me how these bomb threats don’t equate to domestic terrorism,” writes Sprowls.
The outpouring of support is expected to continue Monday night as the Northwest ISD board of trustees holds its next regular meeting.