As some schools across the nation welcome back students for in-person learning, a small but vocal group of parents simply cannot handle seeing folks wear masks. The debate about whether students should be remote or back in the classroom is a nuanced one, to be sure, especially when we consider access issues: What about child care? What about reliable internet access? What about learning styles and needs? How to handle education during the pandemic is not a simple question. But it should be easy for people to mask up when they’re gathering during a pandemic, including gathering for school.

Sadly, some adults are becoming violent over masks in school settings. As Daily Kos covered at the time, for example, a parent in California allegedly assaulted a principal after seeing his child leave school wearing a face mask. On Wednesday, Dan Bauman, a parent in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, allegedly grabbed a student, pushed her, and twisted her arm during a dispute over the school’s mask-wearing mandate. How did we get here? Let’s check out the details below.

Bauman and his daughter, who is a new student and sophomore at Fort Lauderdale High School, have consistently defied the district’s COVID-19 mask mandate, according to local outlet WFOR-TV. In speaking to CBS prior to the incident, Bauman’s daughter stressed that she wants to go to school but that she “can’t wear a mask.” She told the outlet she “can’t breathe in it” and wants to have a choice. According to the outlet, because she refuses to mask up in the school, the administration has refused to let her in each day so far.

At around 7:30 AM on Wednesday, Bauman stood at the entrance gate of the high school and recorded students on his phone. According to the affidavit, a school resource officer recognized Bauman as an anti-mask protester and turned on his body cam, though that footage has not yet been released, as the investigation is still open and active. But it was a fellow student, not the officer, that Bauman allegedly attacked.

As Bauman recorded, one student walked past him and told him she did not want to be recorded, saying, “I’ve had enough for four days.” She then moves to push the phone out of her face, when Bauman responds by grabbing her hand, twisting her arm, and pushing her against the gate.

You can see this happen in a clip that has since gone viral on Twitter.

The resource officer and a security member pulled the 50-year-old off of the high school student. He was arrested, charged with one count of aggravated child abuse, and taken to Broward County Jail. 

As reported by the South Florida Sun-Sentinel, Fort Lauderdale police have dealt with Bauman before when it comes to masks, as they’ve reportedly issued him five trespassing warnings since the start of the pandemic, all of which pertained to mask violations. These instances included him trying to enter spaces either without a mask or using underwear as a mask. According to the Sun-Sentinel, Bauman allegedly punched a woman who asked him to wear a mask while inside a pharmacy in December, though it’s unclear if he faced criminal charges over that incident or not. 

Sean Curran, interim principal of the school, said the student body as a whole is following the district’s mask guidance, and described the students as “incredible” and supportive of the measures meant to “keep everyone safe.” In Bauman’s situation specifically, Curran said the school has met with the family and gone over what exceptions for the mandate they have available to them.

You can check out the video interviews with Bauman and his daughter below.

YouTube Video