A Minnesota high school teacher has sparked controversy after a heated exchange with a student regarding the death of anti-ICE activist Renee Good. This incident, which was captured on video, revealed Dr. Heather Abrahamson, a social studies teacher at Becker High School, expressing intense frustration over the actions of ICE officer Jonathan Ross. She claimed, according to a TikTok post, that Ross applied unnecessary deadly force against Good, who was 37 years old.
In the footage, Abrahamson argues passionately, stating, “If he was really afraid, this is what he would have done. As a police officer, your job is to defuse tension.” She directs her remarks at other students seated in the classroom.
The video then shows Abrahamson standing close to an unidentified student, who contends that Ross “had a split second” to make a life-or-death decision. Abrahamson, seemingly dismissive, responds, “No, he was. No, I’m not going to argue with you,” even as the student counters with, “You’re arguing now.”
A visibly agitated Abrahamson goes on to insist that Ross was not in any danger, flailing her hands as she engages with the student. He retorts, “You don’t win an argument just because you’re yelling,” following which she makes an insulting remark: “Well, just because you’re alive doesn’t mean you’re intelligent.”
This exchange prompted murmurs among the other students, with one asking, “Are you just going to take it? She called you an idiot” before the clip concludes.
Abrahamson has been with Becker Schools for 32 years and holds a Ph.D. in social studies curriculum from the University of Minnesota. This isn’t her first brush with controversy; she has previously clashed with the school board over political discussions, particularly regarding LGBTQ+ issues. During a 2022 meeting, she expressed discontent when the board chose to hear from multiple viewpoints on these subjects.
Despite her frustrations, she acknowledged that some students were relieved to hear from opposing perspectives, stating, “I don’t understand how you can think there’s another side to human rights.”
As of now, neither the principal of Becker High School nor the district superintendent has commented on this incident.
