A butterfly sanctuary in Texas was forced to close for the weekend over “credible threats” surrounding a far-right rally and QAnon-adjacent conspiracy theories fuelling real-world violence.

The National Butterfly Center – a private nature preserve in the Rio Grande Valley near the US-Mexico border – has been a frequent target of far-right conspiracy theorists circulating baseless allegations that the centre supports a border-crossing sex trafficking ring, accusations trading in the same false claims that propelled the QAnon movement.

A “We Stand America” rally in nearby McAllen, Texas is scheduled to feature remarks from Donald Trump-affiliated conspiracy theorists, including former National Security Advisor Michael Flynn and Patrick Byrne, the former Overstock.com CEO and prominent election fraud and Covid-19 vaccine conspiracy theorist.

In an urgent email to members and donors on Thursday, the centre announced it was closing for three days “due to credible threats we have received from a former state official.”

The email said the centre’s director Marianna Trevino Wright was advised to “be armed at all times or out of town this weekend” during the We Stand America event, which includes a “caravan to the border” with a likely stop at the centre.

The former state official reportedly told her that “she and the center are targets.”

“As if we needed further confirmation of the violent sentiment being stirred up against us, this morning, as we drove to work, we found someone...

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