TEXAS — Marisa B. Pérez-Díaz, a Democrat member of the Texas State Board of Education, sent cease-and-desist letters to fellow board members Julie Pickren and Brandon Hall on June 23, 2026. The letters addressed social media posts by Pickren and Hall that labeled Pérez-Díaz a "Marxist," stated she does not view America as "exceptional," and blamed her for "gender confusion, parent's rights being trampled on, indoctrination over education, and boys in girls sports & restrooms."

Pérez-Díaz's cease-and-desist letter asserted that the posts "caused or may foreseeably cause substantial personal, professional, and reputational harm." She threatened to pursue "all available legal remedies" if the conduct did not stop.

Pickren stated that she and Hall described Pérez-Díaz's legal claims as "meritless" and an attack on political speech. "There's a cost to serving in state office, and there's a cost for serving children, unfortunately, now that it has become so polarizing," Pickren said. "That goes with the territory. You have to have a thick skin to serve as a Texas elected official."

Hall called Pérez-Díaz's accusations of bullying and harassment "ridiculous." He stated his criticism focused on his disagreement with her perspective on how Texas should teach social studies. "There's no validity to that whatsoever," Hall said regarding the accusations. "We should be professional, and we should be civil." Hall added, "But my voters also expect me politically to push back, and this back and forth between Marisa Pérez-Díaz and I has never — on my side — has never gone personal."

Pérez-Díaz cried during her statement regarding the dispute. "My tears are not tears of fear or hurt," she said. "They don't do anything to me." Pérez-Díaz has served on the board since 2013. The board includes 10 Republican members and five Democrats.