A controversial Manhattan parent who was removed from a local school board for describing a student's anti-Israel essay as “anti-Semitic” was reinstated to the board on Wednesday after a judge ruled that her removal violated her First Amendment rights.
Maude Mallon took her seat on the district's District 2 Community Education Council again and immediately became the target of protests from those who disagree with her conservative views. But she said she was pleased with the ruling in her favor.
“I'm happy to be back and I'm especially pleased that our judicial system is doing a great job of providing strong and sound protection for the First Amendment and free speech rights,” she told conference attendees.
“This is very important to everyone here, whether you agree with me or not.”
The meeting quickly devolved into an expression of anger from transgender rights advocates, who disagree with Maron and other board members' 8-3 vote to pass a resolution calling for the Department of Education to publicly reconsider its policy of allowing transgender girls to participate in girls' sports.
Schools President David Banks told outraged parents in May that there would be no such review, but Mallon and the board have remained adamant.
The parents of a 5-year-old transgender girl accused the committee on Wednesday night of making the decision “not about sports” and not considering the protection of their daughter.
“This is an attempt to take away protections,” she told the crowd, holding up a photo of her 5-year-old child.
A transgender student at Stuyvesant High School, one of dozens of activists who spoke out on the issue, said the resolution left the community “feeling terrible.”
“We just want to get along and for everyone to respect each other,” they said.
Maron said activists often use squeaky toys, humming and in some cases shouting while audience members are speaking, creating an environment that silences those who disagree with them.
“There were students, female athletes who came to speak in June to support the resolution, but they were too scared to speak up because of the activists,” she said.
Transgender activists at Wednesday's rally were less vocal in their protest, standing with their backs turned when speakers with differing views spoke.
CEC-2 Council member Charles Love said rescinding the resolution was “childish, a waste of time and shows a total lack of focus or effort on the education and academic achievement of D2 children.”
CEC District 2/YouTube
In a heated exchange, fellow councillors Gavin Healy and Sonal Patel fired back.
“We need to repeal this, and we will continue to file a repeal resolution every month. It's not childish to fight back against bullies. We will fight back,” Healy said.
“Months and months of this council's time have been wasted because we have council members who don't understand the concept of representation,” Patel said.
After a short vote, a decision to revoke the resolution was defeated. The council is scheduled to meet again next month.
