Latest news with #transathlete
The Sun
8 hours ago
- Politics
- The Sun
Violence erupts over trans athlete AB Hernandez in California with supporter arrested for smashing car with Pride flag
VIOLENT protests have erupted in California after a trans athlete served a crushing defeat to female rivals at the state championship. AB Hernandez, 16, came first in the women's long jump and triple jump heats at the sporting event - in defiance of Donald Trump's executive order to ban trans athletes from women's sports. 4 4 4 4 She will compete today at the finals of the Interscholastic Federation Southern Section Masters Meet. But a crowd of angry parents confronted her mother at the event to complain that a trans girl was competing against their daughters. It has now turned into a heated row with dozens of protestors carrying out demonstrations to 'save girls sports". Protesters were seen carrying placards and boards outside the Veterans' Memorial Stadium, where the sporting event took place. A banner reading "NO BOYS IN GIRLS' SPORTS!" was flown above the sporting venue during the high school track-and-field championships. The protests quickly turned violent after one person was arrested on suspicion of assault with a deadly weapon, Clovis police Sgt. Chris Hutchison told the Chronicle. He said the person - understood to be an LGBTQ activist - allegedly used a Pride flag to smash a car window, leaving a person injured. More fiery protests are expected to take off as Hernandez prepares to take on her female rivals during the finals today. Yesterday, furious high school parents berated the mother of the trans athlete after her dominant victory. The video, which has now gone viral on TikTok, shows the parents hounding Hernandez's mother for allowing her to compete. One of the parents can be heard yelling at her mother: "What a coward of a woman you are allowing that." Hernandez's story previously made headlines after another teenage girl that she beat to first place in a separate contest waited for her to descend from the podium before moving to pose in the top spot. In the TikTok, the parent can also be heard shouting: "Your mental illness is on your son, coward." But more than half of US states have implemented bans on trans youth athletes participating since 2020. In an Instagram post, Hernandez's mother said: "It takes immense bravery to show up, compete, and be visible in a world that often questions your very right to exist, let alone to participate." Hernandez's case was thrust into national attention after Donald Trump threatened to withhold federal funding from California over her sporting participation. Her successes prompted the California Interscholastic Federation to change its rules to allow "biological female" student athletes who would have made the qualifying mark without a trans contestant in the race to compete in the finals. A spokesperson for California Governor Gavin Newsom's office called the proposed pilot "reasonable". California state law allows the participation of trans women and girls in women's sports. Trump posted on Truth Social: "Please be hereby advised that large scale Federal Funding will be held back, maybe permanently, if the Executive Order on this subject matter is not adhered to." His message refers to an Executive Order from February titled "Keeping Men Out of Women's Sports". In an interview with Capital & Main, Hernandez, from Jurupa Valley, California, said: "There's nothing I can do about people's actions, just focus on my own. "I'm still a child. You're an adult, and for you to act like a child shows how you are as a person." She faced heckling and protesters in the crowd at a track meet earlier this month and was accompanied by campus security and Sheriff's Department deputies, CNN has reported. "Girls were just shocked that people would actually come to do that, and really bully a child," she said. "I've trained so hard. I mean, hours of conditioning every day, five days a week. "Every day since November, three hours after school. And then all of summer, no summer break for me." Her mother added that those who have "doxed, harassed and violated my daughter AB's privacy" have created a "hostile and unsafe environment for a minor".
Daily Mail
11 hours ago
- Politics
- Daily Mail
Violent protests erupt in California as trans athlete thrashes female rivals in defiance of Trump's executive order - as her glamorous mother hits back at president
Violent protests have descended on a California schoolgirl competition after a teenage trans athlete thrashed her female rivals in defiance of Donald Trump 's executive order. AB Hernandez, 17, sealed her place in three finals yesterday - high jump, long jump and triple jump - after coming out on top in all of her preliminary heats. This included a triple jump of 41 feet - nearly 10 inches further than her closest rival. The dramatic row has sparked fury across the US, with Trump even threatening to hold back 'large scale Federal Funding' and blasting the state governor who he claims has continued to 'ILLEGALLY allow "MEN TO PLAY IN WOMEN'S SPORTS"'. Hernansez's glamorous mother, who has also been confronted by angry parents whose daughters are losing out on gold medals, yesterday responded to the dramatic onslaught. She slammed the President's 'weapons of harm' and saying her daughter had become the 'target of a national campaign of cruelty'. Hernandez has previously faced controversy from her own competitors - with a teenage girl they beat to first place waited for her rival to get down from the top of the podium before posing up there herself. And as protesters descended on the California Interscholastic Federation state finals police were dramatically called in - with protesters 'turning physical' and even using pepper spray. They arrested one alleged LGBTQ activist, who is accused of shattering a car window with a flag pole - as Sergeant Chris Hutchison of Clovis Police Department said he doesn't 'have room for violence.' Videos of the alleged attack show a masked protestor with a trans flag walking up to a car before thrusting it through the window. The person in the car claims that they responded with pepper spray. As the girls took to the field, a plane even flew a banner across the high school track-and-field championships stating 'No boys in girls sports'. While the girl competed she was heckled by gathered activists and others wore 'Save Girls´ Sports' T-shirts. AB Hernandez of Jurupa Valley qualified for three event finals: long jump, high jump and triple jump The nation is now holding its breath as the finals will kick off today - with Hernandez predicted to dominate her categories. In February, Trump signed an executive order banning trans athletes from women's sports called 'Keeping Men Out of Women's Sports'. The pledge was one of Trump's most popular rallying cries during the 2024 election campaign and his move to follow through on his vow was celebrated by many sports fans. Ahead of the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics, the Department of Homeland Security has been ordered to 'reject any and all visa applications made by men attempting to fraudulently enter the United States while identifying as women athletes'. As well as her triple jump triumph, the teenager also led in the long jump with a mark close to 20 feet to advance to the final. She advanced in the high jump, clearing 5 feet, 5 inches with ease. The controversial Jurupa Valley track star has been outspoken about transgender women participating in female sports in the past. In a recent interview with Capital & Main, Hernandez said: 'There's nothing I can do about people's actions, just focus on my own. 'I'm still a child, you're an adult, and for you to act like a child shows how you are as a person.' In reference to placing first, Hernandez said: 'All I thought was, "I don't think you understand that this puts your idiotic claims to trash. She can't be beat because she's biologically male." Now you have no proof that I can't be beat.' Trump's tirade came after his Executive Order titled Keeping Men Out of Women's Sports - as he demanded Governor Gavin Newsom, who he calls 'Newscum', should stop allowing transgender student-athletes to compete in sex-segregated sports 'California, under the leadership of Radical Left Democrat Gavin Newscum, continues to ILLEGALLY allow "MEN TO PLAY IN WOMEN'S SPORTS,"' he wrote on May 27. 'This week a transitioned Male athlete, at a major event, won "everything," and is now qualified to compete in the "State Finals" next weekend. As a Male, he was a less than average competitor. As a Female, this transitioned person is practically unbeatable.' Then, he added in all caps, 'THIS IS NOT FAIR AND TOTALLY DEMEANING TO WOMEN AND GIRLS.' Trump went on to threaten: 'Please be hereby advised that large scale Federal Funding will be held back, maybe permanently, if the Executive Order on this subject matter is not adhered to. 'The Governor, himself, said it is "UNFAIR." I will speak to him today to find out which way he wants to go??? In the meantime, I am ordering local authorities, if necessary, to not allow the transitioned person to compete in the State Finals. This is a totally ridiculous situation!!!' Following through on his threat, the DOJ announced yesterday that it would be ramping up an investigation into the state's high school sports amid fears of Title IX violations. But Nereyda said the President he needed to 'open your heart and mind to learn about the LGBTQ+ community'. The mother wrote: 'From the people living these lives with courage, love and dignity. As a leader of this country, you have the power to unite, to educate, and to uplift rather than destroy. 'Hate has no place in leadership and NO child, ESPECIALLY not MINE, should become the target of a national campaign of cruelty just because they are different. We need a president who protects ALL children, not just the ones that fit a political narrative.' She ended by saying, 'We must choose unity over division, love over hate, and humanity over politics. 'My child is not a threat; SHE IS LIGHT!!! As AB's mother, I will continue to stand by her, proudly fiercely, and unconditionally.' At the end of the post, it was signed 'AB's Mom' with a heart emoji. Nereyda declined to give a comment to but stated: 'I'm sure you can understand where I am coming from. 'My Primary responsibility is to protect AB's wellbeing, privacy, and dignity and we have decided to respectfully decline an interview.' Yesterday's event sparked shocking scenes when at least one protestor was reportedly detained by Clovis Police Department. The person, said to be an LGBTQ activist, is accused of shattering a car window with a flag pole, according to Fox news. They have been arrested for assault with a weapon and obstructing a police, according to Sergeant Chris Hutchison, who said the department doesn't 'have room for violence.' 'This afternoon at 3:55PM, a disturbance between two adults occurred at the intersection of Nees/Minnewawa,' a statement, via the outlet, read. 'One adult on the sidewalk and one in a vehicle at the intersection became involved in a disturbance that turned physical. 'During the disturbance, one of them used pepper spray against the other. EMS was called and one of the adults was arrested.' During the meet, which took place at the school's Veterans Memorial Stadium in Clovis, a plane carrying a banner featuring the message 'CIF: NO BOYS IN GIRLS' SPORTS' flew in circles overhead throughout Hernandez's high jump event - her first of the day, which began at 3pm local time. The banner action, arranged by women-led advocacy groups The Independent Council on Women's Sports (ICONS) and Women Are Real (WAR), took aim at the CIF for 'undermining the integrity of women's sports.' 'This is not equality. This is appeasement,' said Julie Lane, spokesperson for Women Are Real, said in a statement to 'Girls should not need a workaround or a second-tier medal ceremony to participate in their own sport.' Hernandez waiting to compete at the girl's long jump during the CIF Southern Section Masters Meet on May 24, which allowed her to qualify for the state championships Donald Trump had ordered California authorities to block her from competing in the meet Meanwhile, a group of around 10 demonstrators gathered outside Veterans Memorial Stadium to protest Hernandez's inclusion, according to the Orange County Register. Some of them wore 'Save Girls´ Sports' T-shirts. At one point as Hernandez was attempting a high jump, someone in the stands yelled an insult. 'I wouldn't need to know a single thing about AB Hernandez other than the fact that AB Hernandez is male in a female competition,' Blake Nestell, a Fresno resident, told the outlet at the event Friday. Earlier this week, Donald Trump lambasted California as he threatened to yank federal funding to the state unless it adhered to his Executive Order titled Keeping Men Out of Women's Sports. AB Hernandez, as a girl in the Varsity Long Jump category, had a seed mark of 19' 3.5' and in the triple jump category 40' 4.75'. If she had, as a biological male, competed against the boys in this year's championship, AB would not have qualified in this weekend's championships. In track and field, a 'seed mark' refers to an athlete's performance level, typically their fastest time or best distance achieved in a previous meet, used to arrange athletes into heats or sections for a competition. This helps in creating fairer competition by grouping athletes with similar abilities together.
Fox News
16 hours ago
- Politics
- Fox News
California track and field championship sees arrest and aerial banner amid transgender controversy
The California track and field state championship prelim round in Clovis on Friday was a scene of conflicting beliefs and even police intervention amid an ongoing controversy involving a trans athlete competing in the girls' category. At least one person was arrested, the Clovis Police Department confirmed Fox News Digital. The person arrested was a protester who is accused of shattering a car window with a flag pole. The department confirmed the person arrested was an LGBTQ activist. "This afternoon at 3:55PM, a disturbance between two adults occurred at the intersection of Nees/Minnewawa. One adult on the sidewalk and one in a vehicle at the intersection became involved in a disturbance that turned physical. During the disturbance, one of them used pepper spray against the other. EMS was called and one of the adults was arrested," a statement read. The person has been arrested for assault with a weapon and obstructing a police, according to Sergeant Chris Hutchison. "We don't have room for violence or property damage or anything like that," Hutchison. Meanwhile, a plane flying a banner that read "no boys in girls' sports" passed over the California track and field championship Friday in Clovis. Footage provided to Fox News Digital by California activist Beth Bourne showed the plan flying overhead at Buchanan High School's Veterans Memorial Stadium. The stunt was organized by two women's advocacy group, Women are Real and the Independent Council for Women's Sports. "California is beginning to reap the consequences of defying federal law and brazenly harming girls," said Kim Jones, co-founder of ICONS in a press release announcing the aerial banner. "How long will Governor Newsom and legislators in this state continue to prioritize granting a few boys the right to take opportunities and recognition away from girls? Not one single boy should ever be in girls' sports. It's the easiest problem in the world to solve—and the most brazen public 'screw you' to female athletes by Democrat leadership. Since when do we tell a single boy he is more important than every girl in the competition? That he has the right to ruin sports for all of them? It's time for California to pay and it's time to right these wrongs." Witnesses at the event told Fox News Digital that pro-transgender protesters attended the event in support of transgender athlete AB Hernandez. The meet and the California Interscholastic Federation's (CIF) entire track and field postseason has been under a national microscope in recent weeks. Trans athlete AB Hernandez of Jurupa Valley High School has dominated the girls' track and field postseason in 2025, prompting national backlash and even the attention of President Donald Trump. Trump sent a Truth Social post on Tuesday morning, warning the state and Gov. Gavin Newsom of potential funding cuts and orders to local authorities to prevent a trans athlete from competing in the girls' category. Then the Department of Justice announced it would launch an investigation into the CIF and California Attorney General Rob Bonta over the state's law that allows biologically male trans athletes to compete with girls and women on Wednesday. The CIF announced a pair of rule changes on Tuesday and Wednesday in response to the backlash, expanding the size of the competitor pool and even handing out medals to any "biological female" athlete displaced by a transgender athlete at the meet. Follow Fox News Digital's sports coverage on X, and subscribe to the Fox News Sports Huddle newsletter.
The Sun
a day ago
- General
- The Sun
Watch parents confront trans school athlete AB Hernandez's mother after their daughters were crushed in TWO track events
THIS is the moment a crowd of furious high school parents berate the mother of a trans athlete after another dominant victory. Trans teen AB Hernandez from Jurupa Valley, California came first in women's long jump and triple jump at the California Interscholastic Federation Southern Section Masters Meet. 5 5 5 This meant that she qualified for the events in next weekend's state championships. She also finished fourth in the high jump, missing out on a championship place in that event by one spot. But a crowd of angry parents confronted her mother at the event to complain that a trans girl was competing against their daughters. The video, which has now gone viral on TikTok, shows the parents hounding Hernandez's mother for allowing her to compete. One of the parents can be heard yelling at her mother: "What a coward of a woman you are allowing that." Hernandez's story previously made headlines after another teenage girl that she beat to first place in a separate contest waited for her to descend from the podium before moving to pose in the top spot. In the TikTok, the parent can also be heard shouting: "Your mental illness is on your son, coward." But more than half of US states have implemented bans on trans youth athletes participating since 2020. In an Instagram post, Hernandez's mother said: "It takes immense bravery to show up, compete, and be visible in a world that often questions your very right to exist, let alone to participate." Hernandez's case was thrust into national attention after Donald Trump threatened to withhold federal funding from California over her sporting participation. Her successes prompted the California Interscholastic Federation to change its rules to allow "biological female" student athletes who would have made the qualifying mark without a trans contestant in the race to compete in the finals. A spokesperson for California Governor Gavin Newsom's office called the proposed pilot "reasonable". California state law allows the participation of trans women and girls in women's sports. Trump posted on Truth Social: "Please be hereby advised that large scale Federal Funding will be held back, maybe permanently, if the Executive Order on this subject matter is not adhered to." His message refers to an Executive Order from February titled "Keeping Men Out of Women's Sports". In an interview with Capital & Main, Hernandez said: "There's nothing I can do about people's actions, just focus on my own. "I'm still a child. You're an adult, and for you to act like a child shows how you are as a person." She faced heckling and protesters in the crowd at a track meet earlier this month and was accompanied by campus security and Sheriff's Department deputies, CNN has reported. "Girls were just shocked that people would actually come to do that, and really bully a child," she said. "I've trained so hard. I mean, hours of conditioning every day, five days a week. "Every day since November, three hours after school. And then all of summer, no summer break for me." Her mother added that those who have "doxed, harassed and violated my daughter AB's privacy" have created a "hostile and unsafe environment for a minor". 5
Fox News
2 days ago
- General
- Fox News
California families of girl athletes speak out as state changes championship amid rules transgender drama
EXCLUSIVE: The California high school track and field state championship is shaping up to be one of the most unprecedented high school sports events in recent history. Amid a national controversy involving a trans athlete competing in the girls' category, the California Interscholastic Federation (CIF) announced a series of sweeping rule changes in the days leading up to the event to accommodate female competitors. But now multiple families of girls who have already been displaced by a trans athlete at previous meets have spoken out against the federation, expressing dissatisfaction with the changes. On Tuesday, the CIF announced it would expand the size of the championship competition pool and inviting "biological female" athletes who missed out on making the title meet by one spot due to a trans athlete finishing ahead of them in last week's qualifying round. Then on Wednesday, the federation announced it would also recognize female athletes on the medal podium if a girl who misses out on a medal finish does so because they came behind a trans athlete. Crean Lutheran track and field star Reese Hogan finished in second place to trans athlete AB Hernandez of Jurupa Valley High School in the triple jump at the Southern Sectional final on May 17. Then, on the medal podium, after Hernandez stepped off, Hogan stepped up to the first-place spot for a photo-op to a roaring applause. The stunt went viral as Hogan was praised by women's sports rights activists as a heroine. But CIF's latest rule changes won't be giving Hogan the first-place medal for that event. Hogan's family provided a statement from her to Fox News Digital that read, "The recent CIF rule changes clearly acknowledge a misstep on their part. However, what they've proposed falls short of what we truly need for all girls across all sports. I placed second in CIF, and I know that if I hadn't been competing against a boy, I would have claimed the top spot on the podium." "Unfortunately, we can't revisit that moment to rectify this injustice. This issue transcends a single meet, sport, or individual; it's fundamentally about the rights of all females to compete fairly among themselves. We deserve that opportunity, and we will continue to advocate for it." Hogan has previously told Fox News Digital she finds the situation involving Hernandez "sad." "It's just kind of sad just watching. He's obviously a really talented athlete, we've all seen him jump and stuff, and I wish him the best of luck, but in a boys' division," Hogan previously told Fox News Digital about competing against the athlete. "It's pretty obvious the certain advantages that he has, and it's obviously just sad as a woman to watch that." Meanwhile, the family of Hogan's Crean Lutheran teammate, Olivia Viola, also isn't satisfied with the rule changes. "While we are grateful that a few female athletes will regain their ability to compete at states and females will earn their rightful titles at this weekends competition, unfortunately CIFs trial program doesn't actually fix anything. Women are still being forced to compete against biological males. The title IX civil rights of our daughters, sisters, friends and teammates are still being violated," Viola's family said in a statement to Fox News Digital. "Unfortunately, with each step our state leaders take, comes the realization that California really has no intention of protecting our girls in the ways that are necessary. The pilot program essentially admits that allowing biological males to compete in the female category was a mistake. Now it's time for full course correction. There is a fundamental truth here that must be upheld. Separating competitive athletics into two XX-XY gender categories must be a non-negotiable." President Donald Trump weighed in on the situation when he sent a Truth Social post on Tuesday morning, warning the state and Gov. Gavin Newsom of potential funding cuts and orders to local authorities to prevent a trans athlete from competing in the girls' category on Saturday. The first rule change came just hours after Trump's post. The Department of Justice announced it would launch an investigation into the CIF and California Attorney General Rob Bonta over the state's law that allows biologically male trans athletes to compete with girls and women on Wednesday. The second rule change took place shortly after that announcement. On Tuesday, the family of another girls' track star who has been displaced by Hernandez in the track and field postseason, Katie McGuinness of La Canada High School, told Fox News Digital they are grateful for Trump's intervention. "We are grateful that President Trump is fighting for female athletes and giving them a fair shot to compete on a level playing field. CIF's 'solution' to this situation, which allows additional girls to compete at the state championship who otherwise didn't qualify because the transgender athlete took their spot, isn't good enough – it's still an unfair competition and an injustice to the girls competing," the family said in a statement. "Allowing biological males to compete in women's sports is unfair, unjust and defies common sense," the family added. Katie previously spoke out against CIF for allowing the situation to get this far in an interview on Fox News' "America Reports" last week. "I have nothing against this athlete as a person, and I have nothing against the trans community," McGuinness said. "My message today is really specifically to CIF and for them to act quickly and in a timely manner because this is a really time-sensitive issue." Follow Fox News Digital's sports coverage on X, and subscribe to the Fox News Sports Huddle newsletter.
