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AB Hernandez closes high school career with 2 California state titles amid ongoing controversy

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The party’s over.

Transgender athlete AB Hernandez finished one of the most highly-publicized high school sports careers in modern history on Saturday night at the California track and field state championship, winning two titles and sharing podium spots with female competitors.

Hernandez took first place in the girls’ high jump and triple jump, and third place in the long jump. Last year, Hernandez won the triple jump and high jump state championships and finished second in the long jump.

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And again this year, Hernandez shared every podium appearance alongside the female competitor who finished one spot behind the athlete. The California Interscholastic Federation (CIF) reimplemented the same pilot program used at last year’s championships, awarding podium recognition to every girl who finished directly behind Hernandez.

At Saturday’s girls’ high jump podium ceremony, Hernandez’s final podium appearance of the night, multiple girls shared podium spots, leaving one side of the podium completely empty.

Images of Hernandez sharing podium spots with female opponents became an infamous viral point of debate over the last two weeks leading up to the finals, after the CIF’s controversial policy change.

The policy came under intense scrutiny from women’s sports activists and even Hernandez’s supporters, including the athlete’s mother, after it was re-implemented three weeks ago at the CIF Southern Section finals.

The images fueled a heated political debate over trans athletes in women’s sports that has followed Hernandez’s high school career since the 2024-2025 school year.

The political overshadow of Hernandez’s high school career reached its climax during championship weekend, with the athlete appearing in a video with Democrat California gubernatorial candidate Tom Steyer on the morning of the CIF championship preliminary round on Friday. Later that day, Republican gubernatorial candidate Steve Hilton headlined a rally outside the preliminary advocating for the protection of girls’ sports.

LGBTQ ACTIVISTS SPEAK OUT AFTER ‘SAVE GIRLS SPORTS’ RALLY ROCKS CALIFORNIA TRACK MEET WITH A TRANS ATHLETE

Then on Saturday, a press conference, organized by the local California LGBTQ advocacy groups Pride at the Pier and Rainbow Families Action, took place outside the CIF state championship, and police were summoned as Hernandez supporters engaged in a war of words with “Save Girls Sports” activists.

Hernandez’s mother, Nereyda Hernandez, and other LGBTQ activists spoke in support of the trans athlete.

Near the end of the press conference, a group of “Save Girls Sports” activists showed up and engaged in a heated verbal confrontation with participants in the LGBTQ press conference.

Clovis Police Department vehicles were parked in the vicinity, and multiple officers came to oversee the confrontation when the shouting began.

Eventually, the confrontation dissipated without any direct intervention by police.

Hernandez went on to win two state titles later that night, bouncing back from the loss in the long jump to dominate the high jump and long jump. The athlete competed in both events simultaneously, running back and forth between the two events as one of the only athletes to compete in both.

Now, with Hernandez’s high school career over, California is left with an ongoing conflict over the issue of biological males in girls’ sports.

The U.S. Department of Justice is currently suing education agencies in the state for its policies that allow trans athletes to compete against females, and Hernandez’s school district, Jurupa Unified School District, is under investigation by the Department of Education.

California’s gubernatorial primary is also just days away, with the issue of transgender athletes in girls’ sports emerging as a prominent campaign topic as Hilton seeks to secure a spot in the general election later this year.

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Agitators outside Delaney Hall set up organized logistics operation before Newark protests began

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NEWARK, N.J. — Agitators outside the Delaney Hall detention facility in Newark, New Jersey, on Saturday were seen establishing a highly organized logistics and support operation before protests began at the site.

Fox News Digital observed stockpiles of masks, duct tape, medical supplies, sunscreen, hard hats, goggles and other protective gear in containers and laid out on tables near the protest site.

Many participants were seen wearing masks, and several wore respirators and helmets.

When Fox News Digital asked one group if they were expecting something serious to happen — given the level of preparation and gear they were wearing — they did not answer. Video then captured one person running at and grabbing the phone Fox News Digital was using to record the scene.

ANTI-ICE AGITATORS CLASH WITH FEDERAL AGENTS OUTSIDE NEWARK DETENTION CENTER

A crowd of roughly 200 anti-ICE demonstrators, heavily intertwined with far-left and socialist organizations, dominated the scene Saturday as ICE supporters, including members who claimed to be part of the far-right Proud Boys, also made an appearance.

Delaney Hall has been at the center of a standoff that began more than a week ago, when illegal immigrant detainees penned an open letter alleging physical and psychological torture, claiming they were being denied medical care and adequate food. 

The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) quickly denied the allegations, releasing facility menus to prove detainees are provided three daily meals with options like chicken fajitas and Salisbury steak.

NEW JERSEY AGITATORS BITE, KICK AND PUNCH ICE AGENTS AS DELANEY HALL CLASHES CONTINUE; 9 MORE ARRESTED: DHS

After federal agents were assaulted during violent skirmishes  earlier in the week, Democratic Gov. Mikie Sherrill ordered the New Jersey State Police to take over security, saying it was necessary to protect demonstrators from an “ICE surge.”

State officials blamed outside agitators for much of the unrest. State Attorney General Jennifer Davenport said five of the six people arrested this week by state police were from outside New Jersey.

By Saturday morning, the immigrant detention center had been transformed into a fortified zone surrounded by large orange plastic barricades and metal fencing.

Fox News Digital’s Alexandra Koch contributed to this report.

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