Ousted parent returns to community education board as left-wing activists try to rescind controversial resolution on trans athletes

A controversial Manhattan mother who was ousted from her position on a community education board for describing a student’s anti-Israel essay as “anti-Semitic” returned to the board Wednesday, after a judge ruled that her First Amendment rights were violated by the removal.

Maud Maron was reappointed to her seat on the District 2 Community Education Council and quickly became the target of protests from those opposed to her conservative views. But she said she was pleased the ruling went in her favor.

“It’s nice to be back and I’m particularly pleased that our judicial system is doing such a good job of robustly upholding First Amendment and free speech rights,” she told attendees at the meeting.

“It’s incredibly important for everyone here, those who agree with me and those who don’t.”

The meeting quickly turned into an angry outcry from transgender rights advocates, who oppose Maron and other board members for passing an 8-3 resolution calling on the Department of Education to conduct a public review of its policy allowing trans girls to play in women’s sports.

In May, Principal David Banks made it clear to excited parents that no such review would take place, but Maron and the board have not backed down from their stance.

On Wednesday night, a father of a five-year-old transgender girl denounced the board, saying the decision was “not about sports” and did not consider the protection of his daughter.

“This is an attempt to take away their protections,” she said as she showed a photograph of her five-year-old son to the crowd.

A trans student at Stuyvesant High School, who was among dozens of activists who spoke out on the issue, said the resolution left the community “feeling terrible.”

“We just want to get along and have everyone respect each other,” they said.

Maron said activists have created an environment that has muzzled those who oppose them, often using squeaky toys, humming or in some cases shouting from the audience as they speak.

“There were students, female athletes, who came to speak in support of the resolution in June who were too afraid to speak out because of the activists,” she said.

Trans activists at Wednesday’s meeting were less vocal in their protest, instead turning their backs when speakers with different views spoke.

CEC-2 board member Charles Love said reversing the resolution is “childish, a waste of time, and devoid of any focus or effort on the education or academic achievement of children in D2.”

In a heated exchange, council members Gavin Healy and Sonal Patel responded with applause.

“We need to repeal this law and we will continue to file this resolution every month. It is not childish to fight back against bullies and we will fight back against you,” Healy said.

“The reason this Council’s time is wasted month after month, after month, after month, is because there are Council members here who don’t understand the concept of representation,” Patel said.

After a brief vote, the decision to rescind the resolution was rejected. The council will meet again next month.