The Independent Women’s Forum (IWF) alleged that their custom Title IX-themed bus was egged during an event in Santa Fe, New Mexico, on Tuesday, marking the second instance of vandalism against the group. The event was part of the IWF’s bus tour commemorating the 53rd anniversary of Title IX, which featured an appearance by U.S. Education Secretary Linda McMahon. The bus, which was decorated with the slogan “Her Game. Her Legacy” and bore messages and signatures from McMahon, was targeted with eggs, according to the IWF. Photos obtained by Fox News Digital showed a litter of eggshells under the bus, with some stains on the surface.
Vice President of Communications Victoria Coley issued a statement to Fox News Digital, detailing the incident. She emphasized that the group believes the act was an intentional attack aimed at intimidating them. “Following our ‘Her Game. Her Legacy’ event honoring the 53rd anniversary of Title IX and generations of female athletes, our tour bus—clearly branded to celebrate women’s sports—was targeted and vandalized with eggs. The individual came dangerously close to hitting me directly. We have filed a police report, and security cameras captured the suspect in the act,” the statement read.
The IWF faced additional logistical challenges, as the previous host of the event expressed a disagreement with the group’s principles, prompting a last-minute venue change. Despite this, the event proceeded with multiple key speakers, including McMahon and former high school volleyball player-turned-activist Payton McNabb. McMahon reflected positively on the event, stating that despite the last-minute adjustments, the event was “actually incredibly good.”
This incident follows a similar report from July 2024, when the IWF’s bus was also attacked in Chapel Hill, North Carolina. The vandals left the bus “egged & defaced with profanity and anti-woman messages.” The IWF denounced the attacks, calling them the work of radical gender ideologues seeking to silence women’s voices. “Radical gender ideologues on a mission to erase womanhood seek to keep us quiet. WE WON’T BACK DOWN. WOMEN WON’T BE SILENT,” the group proclaimed on X.
The IWF has been vocal about their stance on women’s rights and sports, with Coley emphasizing their commitment to defending sex-based rights and protecting female athletes across the U.S. The group is continuing its bus tour to all 33 counties of New Mexico, expressing a firm resolve not to be intimidated by these incidents. While the police investigation into both incidents is ongoing, the IWF has stated that they will not be deterred from their mission to support women’s sports and Title IX advocacy.
The events have also sparked conversations about the safety and security of advocacy groups, especially those with prominent political and social stances. As the IWF continues its tour, the community and authorities are monitoring the situation, awaiting further details from the police reports and the outcomes of these investigations. The IWF’s determination to continue its mission underscores the significance of their advocacy in the ongoing discourse on gender, sports, and social rights in America.