An elementary school in Tulsa, Oklahoma, was the target of bomb threats twice in two days after the school’s librarian posted a video on TikTok.
In the video, librarian Kirby Mackenzie walks into a library with books, approaches the camera, and hops to a song.
The words above the video read, “POV: Teachers in your state are dropping like flies, but you’re still not quite done enforcing your public school waking agenda.”
The video initially garnered tens of thousands of views but was boosted when the popular Libs of TikTok Twitter account reposted the video on Monday. The post has been viewed more than 2.6 million times.
The Twitter post was captioned, “This is an elementary school librarian in Oklahoma,” and included a shot of what appears to be a professional bio of Mackenzie, which lists “teaching with a focus on social justice” as one of her passions.
Oklahoma police are working to find the people who sent multiple bomb threats to a Tulsa elementary school last week after a video of the librarian saying she was pushing a wake-up agenda went viral
What the Twitter post didn’t include was Mackenzie’s original TikTok caption, which read, “My radical liberal agenda is to teach kids to love books and be kind hbu??” I think I’ll get one every year make of it until I die or finish my apprenticeship #teachersoftiktok #schoollibrarian #liberalagenda #scandal #okpolitics.’
After the video was shared on Twitter, the school received an early morning bomb threat that read: “Children’s innocence is sacred, it’s a fact known throughout human history and the end of civilizations like….” In ancient Rome they are often shaped by the normalization of pedophilia and child abuse.”
“I will not stand by and watch as you idiots continue to indoctrinate and exploit our children.” That’s why we planted a bomb in the school. “They will evacuate the building so no one dies.”
The threat against Ellen Ochoa Elementary School was signed by someone named “Made John.”
On Tuesday, Tulsa Police Captain Richard Muelenberg IV told local news agency KFOR that the start of the school had been delayed due to the threat.
“We’ve got bomb-sniffing dogs and everything else.” We’re locking it down. We will do everything we can to make sure this area is safe because these children are the biggest thing.
“You have to protect your children.” In most cases, this is simply a person looking for attention. “They want to disrupt a system,” he said.
The department could not identify any credible threat.
Then another threat came on Wednesday.
One sender, who went by only the name “Yessy,” wrote, “We planted a bomb at Ellen Ochoa Elementary School.” “You will stop promoting this awakened ideology or we will bomb every school in the union district.”
Mackenzie was selected again, and this time the email said a bomb had also been planted in her home.
A seemingly professional biography by Kirby Mackenzie lists “teaching with a focus on social justice” as one of her passions, prompting further backlash over her video
Tulsa Elementary School received two bomb threats last week after Mackenzie’s video went viral
Muelenberg IV said that although the threats “have become sort of a howling wolf situation” at this point, the bottom line is, “This is now permissible.”
“It’s not acceptable in society.” You know, you’re basically threatening the lives of innocent children who have nothing to do with your problem. “It’s not going to be okay and we’re going to prosecute the person and we’re going to find them and put them in jail,” he said.
“We’re going to find that person and we’re going to get there, no matter what little tent you’re in right now, no matter where you’re sending your email from.” We’re going to come and find you. “We will arrest you.”
The school was placed on shelter-in-place mode on Wednesday until classes were deemed safe to continue, which didn’t last long, according to Union Public Schools chief communications officer Chris Payne.
Payne said the reaction to Mackenzie’s video was primarily because its meaning had been “misinterpreted.”
“There is no evil intention.” There is none of that. Just very misconstrued,” he said.
Despite claims by some school officials that Mackenzie’s video was taken out of context, State Commissioner Ryan Walters appeared to support the idea that the radical “woke” ideology in public schools must be stopped: “Woke ideology is real and I’m here, to stop them.” he wrote
Payne added that despite the backlash, the school stands behind its staffer.
“She’s one of our long-time librarians, well respected, and has done a lot of really good work at Union.” We stand behind Kirby. “She’s a great collaborator,” he said.
Mackenzie was at school on Wednesday.
However, State Commissioner Ryan Walters didn’t necessarily think the video was misunderstood by the general public.
On Tuesday, he released the video and wrote, “Democrats say it doesn’t exist.” The liberal media denies the issue. Even some Republicans hide from it. The woke ideology is real and I’m here to stop it.’