QAnon Threats Force Closure Of TX Butterfly Sanctuary

February 3, 2022 Extremists, Trump cultists

The Texas Tribune reports:

A South Texas butterfly sanctuary has closed after it was the target of conspiracy theories that escalated into credible threats.

The National Butterfly Center, along the U.S.-Mexico border in Mission, has long been the target of QAnon conspiracy theories falsely tying the organization to human trafficking.

The center is a 20-year-old nature conservatory for wild butterflies. There are no law enforcement investigations into the organization or its staff for human trafficking.

CBS News reports:

The facility already closed between January 28 and 30 because of “credible threats” related to an event held by supporters of the former president in nearby McAllen.

Photos purporting to be from the center had been circulating along with messages accusing the organization of helping smugglers bring migrants to the U.S.

“They tell these lies in a variety of forms through all of their channels to provoke stochastic terrorism,” said the center’s executive director Marianna Treviño-Wright.

Yahoo News reports:



The Virginia congressional candidate, Kimberly Lowe, arrived at the center on Jan. 21 and demanded river access, accusing executive director Marianna Treviño-Wright of permitting “children being sex trafficked and raped and murdered,” the Chronicle reports. After Treviño-Wright told Lowe to leave, Lowe tackled her, Treviño-Wright says.

Lowe disputes Treviño-Wright’s account of events, but after news of the altercation spread, “We Stand America” banned her from the McAllen event. Lowe said she spent $2,500 for a “diamond VIP” ticket that would have included a private border tour with featured guests Michael Flynn, a QAnon favorite, and former acting ICE chief Thomas Homan.

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