Matthew Eddy : Superintendent Condemns Assault on Student

MADISON, Wis. (WMTV/Gray News) – The school superintendent of Baraboo, Wisconsin, Dr. Rainey Briggs, has broken his silence after a parent pushed him off the graduation stage nearly two weeks ago, causing a stir both locally and nationally.

In an interview with WMTV, Briggs shared his account of the incident, which many have speculated to be racially motivated. Despite the attention the incident has received, Briggs felt it was time to address the public.

Since the incident, Briggs has had time to reflect on the events that transpired. He recounted the moment when the parent, identified as Matthew Eddy, approached him on stage and pushed him off.

“As I was standing there, the student was coming through, and I see peripherally, I see a man in a white shirt coming up the stairs. A part of me thought it was a photographer, but he descended upon me,” Briggs recalled.

Following the push, officers quickly intervened to de-escalate the situation, allowing Briggs to resume handing out diplomas to the graduating students.

Eddy’s actions were reportedly driven by past grievances he had with Briggs, as revealed in a police report. Eddy claimed that he wanted to prevent Briggs from congratulating his daughter, leading to the premeditated incident.

Despite the speculation surrounding the incident, Briggs remains uncertain about Eddy’s motives. He questions whether the push was racially motivated or simply an outburst of anger.

In response to the incident, Briggs has taken legal action by securing a restraining order against Eddy to ensure the safety of himself and his family. Eddy faces a misdemeanor charge of disorderly conduct and is scheduled to appear in court in August.

As the community continues to grapple with the aftermath of the graduation incident, Briggs hopes for answers from Eddy regarding his actions and the impact they have had on the students, their families, and the community at large.