A White father ruined his (presumed) daughter's high school graduation when he ran up on stage and shoved aside the district superintendent, a Black man, to prevent him from giving her a congratulatory handshake.
Video footage from Baraboo High School's graduation in Wisconsin showed graduates engaging in the common ritual of receiving their diplomas and making their way down a line of school officials offering handshakes.
The ceremony was disrupted when a man in a polo shirt and white baseball cap ran up onto the stage just after a graduate believed to be his daughter received her diploma and was walking toward district Superintendent Rainey Briggs.
Before she could reach him, the man, identified as Matthew Eddy, forcibly removed Briggs from the stage.
You can see the clip here.
There has been no official confirmation that Eddy was the graduate's father, but she appeared visibly stunned over the commotion.
Eddy was also heard saying in the video, "That's my daughter."
Briggs was also heard telling Eddy:
"You better get up off me, man. Get away from me, bro."
Staff members working the graduation ceremony and three Baraboo police officers, including the school resource officer, rushed over to the side of the stage to de-escalate the situation.
The seated graduates jeered and booed, and the high school senior moved her graduation cap tassel over to the right, signifying she graduated, and walked off the stage amid the chaos.
Social media users felt sorry for the graduate.
Some viewers were convinced Eddy's behavior was characteristic of MAGA.
WISC News noted that Briggs shared the stage alongside School Board President Kevin Vodak, board members Gwynne Peterson, Katie Kalish, and Amy DeLong, and Baraboo High School Principal Steve Considine, who are White.
Eddy did not interact with the others but headed straight for Briggs to shove him aside before his daughter could reach him.
There were several comments suggesting the incident was racially motivated.
Police escorted Eddy out of the building following the incident.
District spokesperson Hailey Wagner said a disorderly conduct charge for the disrupter was referred to the Sauk County District Attorney’s Office.
An issued statement read:
“We would like to emphasize that the safety and well-being of our students, staff, and community members is a top priority."
The statement continued:
“The School District of Baraboo is taking this incident very seriously and are working closely with local law enforcement to ensure a thorough investigation."
“Our primary focus remains on celebrating the achievements of our graduates. We want to ensure that the significance of this milestone and the hard work of our students are not overshadowed by this unfortunate event.”
The school board condemned Eddy's actions without mentioning his name.
“We understand that there are many folks who care deeply about the education of students, and who come together with different understandings and ideas about how best to provide that education," read the statement.
"We value the civil discourse that allows us to have conversations about those ideas; that’s at the cornerstone of our democracy."
“What we do not condone is engaging in threatening, intimidating, or physically harming behaviors against anyone in our School District community.”
They continued:
“No employee of the School District of Baraboo should fear for their physical safety when fulfilling their job duties or at any other time."
“That this adult felt emboldened to behave in this way in front of hundreds of students and other adults should deeply trouble us all; this type of behavior will not be tolerated."
"The School District of Baraboo Board of Education condemns such actions and asks the community to take a stand and speak out against this type of behavior that threatens the fabric of our democracy.”
The news report mentioned the incident occurred amid numerous unspecified complaints that had been leveled against Briggs, other administrators, and the School Board.
This prompted people to urge other to reserve judgment on racism claims.
Time magazine reported that Briggs had filed a restraining order against Eddy.
Regardless of what prompted Eddy's behavior, the young woman will forever associate the appalling incident with what should have been a proud moment.
@PaulRieckhoff/X