UPDATE: Anchor Bay High School sophomore Madalynn Watraz is facing threats and backlash after founding the conservative Club America, an offshoot of Turning Point USA. This troubling situation escalated following a social media post promoting the club, igniting intense debates and alarming threats against Watraz.
Watraz launched Club America at the start of the 2025-26 school year with encouragement from school board member Dominic Vendittelli, aiming to fill a perceived gap in conservative representation at her school. Despite her busy schedule—balancing DECA, Business Professionals of America, and a perfect 4.0 GPA—she believed the club was essential for students who share similar beliefs.
The situation turned dire on February 12, 2025, when the club held a meeting to create Valentine’s Day cards for local seniors. Afterward, Watraz and her fellow members placed posters around the school to advertise their meetings. However, when she returned to school on February 17, she found that her posters had vanished.
Shortly after, an anonymous Facebook user posted a picture of one of the posters, captioned with a threatening remark: “Danger zone? More like: gun free zone.” This post quickly garnered over 165 comments, ranging from support to vehement opposition. While some users expressed encouragement, others condemned the display of political beliefs in public spaces, labeling it unconstitutional.
In an email to school officials, Watraz expressed concern over the removal of her posters, citing potential violations of her First Amendment rights. “I am concerned because the removal of these posters may represent an infringement on my First Amendment rights,” she stated, requesting an investigation into the incident.
Despite her efforts, the school administration has yet to respond to her concerns. Chelsey Schell, a district spokesperson, confirmed that the situation is under review and that they are awaiting further details from Watraz to examine security footage.
In a shocking twist, Watraz reported receiving threatening phone calls, where unknown individuals claimed to know her home address and issued warnings to “watch her back.” “It’s just been a lot, especially being a teenager,” Watraz shared, reflecting the emotional toll this has taken on her.
As the week progressed, the lack of support from school officials left Watraz feeling frustrated and isolated. “If I took down another club’s posters, the school would be very against that,” she remarked, highlighting a perceived double standard in how conservative viewpoints are treated at the school.
Watraz’s mother, Megan Hemp-Watraz, expressed her concern over her daughter’s safety and the response from the school. “It’s alarming how adults have gone after her,” she stated, supporting her daughter amidst the backlash.
This situation has resonated with other students at Anchor Bay High School, many of whom remain hesitant to express their conservative views due to fears of similar repercussions. Watraz believes that the threats she received may be attempts to intimidate her rather than serious dangers.
As of now, the investigation into the poster removals continues, with no substantial response from school authorities. The incident at Anchor Bay High School raises critical questions about free speech, political expression, and the safety of students in educational environments.
What happens next? The community is watching closely as the administration addresses these serious concerns and whether Watraz will receive the support she needs to continue her advocacy through Club America.
