Former Houston Dash goalkeeper and coach Haley Carter was scheduled to lead the Fourth of July parade in Friendswood, Texas, but she was compelled to back out after an alt-right media figure started a harassment campaign against her.
Threats were part of the mob assault when a conservative Houston radio DJ used an image of her son in a Twitter post to threaten her online.
Haley Carter was criticized on Twitter by Jesse Kelly, a former congressional candidate and host of a conservative talk station. Carter allegedly insulted Kelly because of her liberal political views.
He even posted a photo of her child online in an effort to persuade Friendswood officials to have her removed from the parade.
In his pitch to his fans, Kelly also bemoaned Haley Carter’s involvement with trans activism and drew attention to the fact that Carter had brought her happy son to a drag show in Las Vegas to see his “idol Queen.”
At the time, it wasn’t obvious how serious the threats were, and a representative of the Friendswood Police Department who was reached out to, wasn’t sure if investigators were looking into them.
Who Is Haley Carter
According to a post shared by City of Friendswood – Government on Facebook, Haley Carter is “a former US Marine officer and retired professional women’s soccer player. She competed in NCAA Div I soccer at the US Naval Academy and graduated with honors in 2006.”
“After earning her commission, she served nearly eight years as a Marine Corps Logistics Officer, making two combat deployments in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom.”
“Between deployments, she competed for the U.S. All-Armed Forces Women’s Soccer team in the Council for International Military Sports World Championships in Ede, Netherlands in 2008 and Cherbourg, France in 2010.”
“Haley was Marine Corps Air Station Cherry Point Female Athlete of the Year and finalist for Marine Corps Female Athlete of the Year in 2010.”
“Following Active Duty, Haley spent three seasons as a Goalkeeper for the Houston Dash of the National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL). In her final professional season, she was the first ever women’s player recognized with the FIFPro World Players’ Union Merit Award.
“Now retired from professional play, she has served as the Assistant Coach for the Afghanistan Women’s National Football Team and most recently, as the Goalkeeper Coach for the Antigua and Barbuda Women’s National Team.”
“In addition to her degree from the Naval Academy, Carter owns an MBA with Distinction from the University of Liverpool and a Juris Doctor from the University of Houston Law Center.”
“She is a Lifetime Girl Scout and serves as an Executive Board Member for both the Asherah Foundation and the U.S. Naval Academy TxGC Foundation. Carter is an outspoken advocate of gun reform and currently serves as Chair of the City of Houston Commission Against Gun Violence.”
“Her personal military decorations include the Defense Meritorious Service Medal and the Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal (w/ Gold Star in Lieu of Second Award).”
