Waukesha middle school receives threats of bombs, shootings following post from Libs of TikTok
Butler Middle School in Waukesha experienced a series of bomb and school shooting threats over the span of a week following a social media post from a popular right-wing account, Libs of TikTok, that was critical of a principal's 2022 social media post.
Parents have received numerous emails from the school's principal, Laura Jennaro, Waukesha School District superintendent Jim Sebert and the Waukesha Police Department. The district and Waukesha police found all threats to be not credible.
Libs of TikTok has over 2.9 million followers on X and frequently posts to other platforms under the same name. Despite the name, Libs of TikTok often posts right-wing content critical of the left-wing and LGBTQ+ people and policies. Although the accounts posted anonymously for its first year and a half, the identity of the poster became known following a Washington Post article in April 2022.
Chaya Raichik is a former real estate agent who got her start on X, formerly Twitter, in November 2020. The Twitter account often tweeted content stating the 2020 presidential election was stolen from Donald Trump. She eventually changed her original handle to @libsoftiktok in April 2021 and began promoting content that endorsed the belief that LGBTQ people are "groomers" and "pedophiles."
On March 4, the Libs of TikTok X account posted about Jeffrey Taege, an assistant principal at Butler Middle School. Included in the post is a screen shot of Facebook post from Taege from April 2022 where he shared an image of a statement that said parents shouldn't have the only say in what is taught in schools, but the "entire community" should. Taege said, "Saw this and had to share. Acceptance, equity, and inclusion should be cornerstones of our schools."
Libs of TikTok posted to X, "Meet Jeffrey Taege. ... He thinks parents shouldn't have a say in their kids' education and the community and not the parent is responsible for children's education." The account then included an image of Taege with his husband.
Four days later, on March 8, an email threat was made to the Waukesha County Health and Human Services that referenced Butler Middle School, according to an email Jennaro sent to parents. She said the threat was not credible and learning would continue as usual at the school. But, subsequent threats followed.
Sebert sent an email to parents on March 11 following another threat where he said, "The emailed bomb threats that have been received targeting Butler Middle School are originating from overseas. The threats on Friday toward the school and a Butler staff member were linked to IP addresses in Russia and Nigeria. Today's message threatening Butler, a Butler staff member and a District Office staff member was linked to a cellular phone number in Nigeria. All threats have been deemed not credible by the Waukesha Police Department and as a result, school will continue as usual."
Following another threat on March 12, Sebert emailed, "The threats that have and continue to occur to come in regarding Butler Middle School and our staff are abhorrent. There is no tolerance in our District or community for threats to the safety of our students, staff and schools. The email threats that we continue to receive have been deemed not credible and originate from overseas. This being said, these threats will likely continue in the coming days."
Jennaro told parents in an email that Butler Middle School was placed on a "secure hold" for 38 minutes the morning of March 12 as a result of the threats. Another threat came on March 14 and Jennaro said additional security measure were put in place. Additional bomb sweeps were conducted and police would continue to provide an increased presence.
On March 15, Sebert and Waukesha Police Lt. Chad Pergande released a video to parents and staff. "This week has been difficulty for the entire school community," Pergande said. "We understand that the threats and uncertainty are causing stress for you and your family."
Pergande said of the four threats, three were bomb threats, with the other a school shooting threat, and they all originated overseas. Three of the four originated in Nigeria, while the other was tied to Russia, he said. "We are not alone in this," Pergande said. "If you go online, you will find regarding school districts across the country having similar threats."
Pergande said there appears to be a correlation between a social media post of a staff member at Butler Middle School and the targeting of the school, but did not name Libs of TikTok.
However, after the video release, on March 17, Sebert said in an email that the district was made aware of social media postings that originated from Waukesha students that discussed a school shooting at Butler Middle School on Monday, March 18. "These posts were investigated and contact has been made with students and families involved," Sebert said. "These posts were deemed not credible. We have no tolerance for threats and spreading of rumors related to violence in our school community."
"We recognize that some families may have concerns about their child attending school right now," he added. "It is always your right as a parent to determine what is best for your child."
Last month, the FBI and law enforcement were critical of Libs of TikTok following bomb threats across the U.S. that followed a social media post.
A group of Waukesha parents and residents posted to Facebook under the name Unwavering Waukesha. "There is an obvious gap in transparency concerning the reasoning behind these threats," the statement reads. "In addition, the community should be aware of a likely correlation between school board policy/board members’ rhetoric and these threats."
The statement continued, saying, "The Butler staff person being attacked by these social media posts and threatened is a phenomenal, award-winning educator."
"Unfortunately, the attacks on and threats towards this educator seem to be the end product of the anti-LGBTQ+ rhetoric and harmful policies enacted by numerous school board members in Waukesha," said Unwavering Waukesha.
The Waukesha School District and its school board has received both new scrutiny and praise in recent years following a series of policy changes that some viewed as harmful, and in some cases, discriminatory to LGBTQ+ students and staff.
Sebert sent a letter to teachers in 2021 banning "controversial" and "political" signage from schools. Soon, Black Lives Matter, Blue Lives Matter, Thin Blue Line, Pride flags, and other posters and materials were removed from classrooms. Four months later, a special education kindergarten teacher was suspended for refusing to take down a Pride flag.
The district enacted a "parental bill of rights" last year. The resolution prohibits staff from referring to students by any name or pronoun other than the one consistent with the student's biological sex without written permission from their parents. The resolution also says students must use the bathroom and locker room facilities and participate in the sports consistent with the students' biological sex.
"Parental rights" has been a rallying cry for many legislative bodies across the country. In Waukesha, most members of the school board were supported by the Republican Party of Waukesha County.
Sebert and School Board President Kelly Piacsek deny any allegiance to the Republican Party as the school board is technically nonpartisan. Also akin to Republican efforts in the Wisconsin Legislature, the Waukesha School Board voted to fire the staff member handling diversity, equity and inclusion in the district.
As seen across the country, Waukesha school board meetings have consisted of fiery speeches from parents who both support and oppose the board's vision. There is an election for three seats on April 2.
Waukesha is also the school district that fired teacher Melissa Tempel after she spoke out on social media criticizing the administration for its decision to prohibit the use of the Miley Cyrus and Dolly Parton song "Rainbowland" at a concert. The controversy gained national attention. Tempel has since filed a federal lawsuit arguing her First Amendment rights were violated.
"Beyond board policies, the hyper-politicization of the Waukesha School board and deep connection between multiple school board members and the Republican Party of Waukesha County has continued to fuel the fire of anti-LGBTQ+ activity in our community," said Unwavering Waukesha, the parents group.
"Unwavering Waukesha has seen social media posts from current Butler students that amount to homophobic behavior towards the Butler staff person in question," it added before urging "the School Board of Waukesha and Superintendent James Sebert to immediately begin open and vocal support to support this staff person, recant any blame towards the staff person’s social media postings, offer more transparency to Butler’s staff, Butler parents and community members regarding the threats."
This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Waukesha middle school receives bomb threats after Libs of TikTok post
