Janice R. Andrews
After hurriedly entering the stage at his daughter’s high school graduation to stop her from shaking hands with the Black superintendent, Matthew Eddy, a father from Wisconsin, is now facing legal repercussions. Social media was rocked by the incident at Baraboo High School, prompting charges of racism from locals and authorities.
Superintendent Rainey Briggs was pushed aside by Eddy during the ceremony, which made Briggs react defensively to jeers from the audience. The student in question appeared shocked on the event’s video, despite the lack of evidence that she was Eddy’s daughter.
Eddy was ticketed for disorderly conduct following the confrontation, and the Sauk County District Attorney’s Office was given the case. Briggs also applied for a temporary restraining order against Eddy, which was approved with a hearing scheduled for June 14.
The Baraboo School District highlighted its dedication to safety, denounced Eddy’s actions, and urged the public to speak out against such behavior. The school board emphasized the need of polite conversation and the requirement to safeguard district personnel’ physical safety.
This incident adds to Baraboo High School’s history of scandal. In 2018, the school attracted criticism for a photo of pupils making the Nazi salute. Critics have also criticized the district’s handling of that incident, citing First Amendment rights.
While making sure that the current incident is thoroughly investigated, the school district continues to concentrate on recognizing the accomplishments of its graduates. Requests for comments from Eddy were met with silence.
