A Houston crime victims advocate says she has faced intense harassment, hate messages, and death threats following her appearance in a political advertisement supporting Texas Governor Greg Abbott.
April Aguirre, known for her advocacy work on behalf of crime victims, appears in the campaign ad to discuss the tragic murder of her nine-year-old niece, Arlene Alvarez. The use of the family’s tragedy in the political spot has ignited a sharp backlash from the child’s mother, Wendy Alvarez, who publicly demanded that the advertisement be removed.
In a lengthy statement posted to social media, Wendy Alvarez expressed strong opposition to the campaign’s approach, writing that she never agreed to allow her daughter to be made part of any political campaign or to have her tragedy used to influence votes.
Aguirre defended her personal political decisions while acknowledging the severe fallout directed at her relatives. She noted that thousands of hateful messages, alongside direct threats and harassment, have targeted the family. Aguirre emphasized that her political choices are entirely her own and should not reflect upon or draw hostility toward her family members.
Responding to media inquiries, Wendy Alvarez issued a prepared statement indicating she would decline further interviews, news coverage, and public statements. She noted that the preceding days had proven extremely overwhelming and emotionally taxing for her family, adding that her position was already clear and she wished to avoid additional media attention.
Representatives for Governor Abbott’s reelection campaign also addressed the controversy. Eduardo Leal, speaking for the campaign, stated that officials had not engaged in direct conversations with Wendy Alvarez regarding the advertisement.
