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A Bakersfield, California elementary school teacher justified her actions after video showed her screaming profanities and threatening the lives of an eight-year-old and her mother at a peaceful protest.
Erika Baze said she and her daughter were heading home from the protest when a woman confronted them. The woman told them they weren't welcome in the neighborhood and threatened to call the police.
Baze began recording when the woman became violent and had to be dragged away by her husband. Carrie Maxwell—who most recently taught at Wayside Elementary School for Bakersfield City School District—made a statement justifying her behavior after the video—showing her plainly threatening to "f****ing kill" a small child and her mother—was made public.
You can see news coverage here:
CAUGHT ON CAMERA: Woman verbally attacks mother and child at protestwww.youtube.com
The little girl can be heard sobbing while Maxwell is forcibly dragged away by her husband.
As soon as the video went viral, Twitter tried to identify Maxwell and where she worked.
@Wayside_Elem_ it has come to my attention that a staffer of yours, Carrie Maxwell, who happens to be a second grade teacher harassed a young girl and threaten to kill her mother. Please let me know if this is someone you want representing your school or caring for children. 💚 pic.twitter.com/LCggigQdqI
— hella tired (@Lizz287babe) June 6, 2020
wouldn't it be a damn shame if we all ruined carrie maxwell's life. who is, might i add, a 2nd grade teacher @ wayside elementary in bakersfield, ca the principal of the school she works at is dr. dylan capilla her email is capillad@bcsd.com pic.twitter.com/TY5JvmcDKQ
— ari (@spideysleia) June 7, 2020
Hello @Wayside_Elem_ would you like to address the matter of #CarrieMaxwell, or do you prefer we continue to bring this to the fore on the Twitterverse. #BallIsInYourCourt #FireCarrieMaxwell
— Steph Van Vlack (@steph_van_vlack) June 7, 2020
Maxwell's statement began:
"I had seen news coverage of the protest turning into riots across the country and was aware that the protests near my home had turned to confrontations the day before."
"When I heard protesters gathering near my home, loudly chanting profanities, I became overwhelmed with anxiety and fear."
After saying her actions were justified due to a number of factors and not indicative of her character or values, Maxwell added:
"I want to offer my sincerest apology to anyone who was hurt by my behavior in that video."
If you're wondering where hate begins...Carrie Maxwell (the woman threatening to kill another woman and her child) is a teacher.
Woman apologizes for moment of 'anxiety, frustration and panic' in outburst against Black Lives Matter protester https://t.co/pLMYuvJ2QE
— Miss Aja (@brat2381) June 9, 2020
Carrie Maxwell was so concerned that a peaceful protest near her house would become violent that she called police and when they refused to come out because protestors have rights and Carrie Maxwell doesn't own the sidewalk or street, she ironically became the violent one
— Robin Robin (@RobinRo35212490) June 10, 2020
Bakersfield California
“Me & my daughter were walking alone & this woman jumped out to attack us. Everyday has been peaceful so I finally agreed to take Kimberly during the day"
Carrie Maxwell 2nd Grade Teacher at Wayside Elementary school. Why is she still employed? Retweet! pic.twitter.com/BxcZd8vjIU
— Terrence Daniels (Captain 🍀 Planet) (@Terrence_STR) June 7, 2020
Her name is #CarrieMaxwell and she is a liar. Her nice "lawyer letter" claims she NEVER threatened the woman and her child. Really what the hell does this mean (screamed at a sobbing little girl and her mom): “I will f-ing kill you!" before her husband dragged her away. https://t.co/im6aSUuxm6
— Sherry Baker (@Sherstar) June 9, 2020
Erika Baze found Maxwell's apology less than sincere.
Erika Baze wrote in part "As much as I would like to accept an apology, I do not see this as a legitimate apology. This is a press release from a lawyer that Ms. Maxwell has secured, full of excuses for Ms. Maxwell's behavior."https://t.co/IUR2E22yc0
— BakersfieldNow (@bakersfieldnow) June 9, 2020
Maxwell's district was contacted.
Response from #KCSOS re: #CarrieMaxwell. Let's see what action #BCSD will take.
I hope a civil lawsuit is coming from the baby's family. pic.twitter.com/dEJGICuWPF
— Ms. Carrie (@CtheInquisitive) June 8, 2020
Ultimately, a statement by Bakersfield City School District was released saying they were investigating.
pic.twitter.com/pJ6TWgs3JL
— Bakersfield City School District (@Team_BCSD) June 8, 2020
People are saying an investigation into just this filmed incident is not enough.
Your school district predominantly serves underserved BIPOC communities. The thought of how Carrie Maxwell has treated these students frightens me. All eyes are on you @Team_BCSD. I plead you to conduct your own investigation and consider revoking her credentials @CalCTC. https://t.co/Rnm1jw1O4k
— karla (@kcireniia) June 10, 2020
Carrie Maxwell yelled “I will f-ing kill you" at a anti-racism protester with her 8 year old daughter standing nearby crying.
Maxwell has been a teacher for 12 years and works in the Bakersfield City School District. https://t.co/deu81JziGq
— Eugene Scott (@Eugene_Scott) June 9, 2020
Carrie Maxwell, the woman who threatened to kill a BLM protestor in front of her daughter, blamed her actions on frustration and panic. THE SCHOOL SHE WORKS AT HAS NOT SAID ANYTHING ABOUT THE INCIDENT!!!! THIS IS UNACCEPTABLE!!!! SPREAD THIS, SHE DESERVES TO LOSE HER JOB!!!!! pic.twitter.com/hogxvU3y9H
— celina (@celinavanhynin1) June 9, 2020
Maxwell is the latest in a slew of ugly videos that have surfaced from #BlackLivesMatter protests in which people have threatened or condoned violence against protestors or against George Floyd himself, whose death set off the nationwide movement at a fever pitch.
With the level of acceptability of problematic behavior rapidly dropping, the way these incidents are handled by all Americans will set the stage for this next chapter in the American story.