The National Butterfly Center in Mission, Texas will close for the indefinite future due to an increasing number of threats and harassment from rightwing conspiracy theorists who believe the 100 acre preserve is being used to assist undocumented migrants, NPR reports.
In a statement released Wednesday, the Center cited increasing harassment of staff members who have been targeted because the Center challenged Trump Administration policies regarding a wall along the US-Mexico border.
“The safety of our staff and visitors is our primary concern,” states Dr. Jeffrey Glassberg, president and founder of the North American Butterfly Association. “We look forward to reopening, soon, when the authorities and professionals who are helping us navigate this situation give us the green light.”
The Center’s Executive Director, Marianna Treviño Wright, was assaulted by Republican Virginia Congressional candidate Kimberly Lowe after Lowe traveled from Virginia to search for children being trafficked. Lowe accused Treviño Wright of condoning child sex trafficking and shoved her to the ground where she was further harassed and threatened by a companion of Lowe’s. (Lowe denies the charges and claims that Treviño Wright was somehow trying to kidnap her.)
Originally, the Center’s board had opted to close for the weekend, but decided to make the closure indefinite while the threats continue.