Atlanta’s High School Q&A Session Turns Sour with Councilmember Outburst
Atlanta, GA – A recent school event in Atlanta took an unexpected turn during a Q&A session when Atlanta City Councilmember Liliana Bakhtiari seemingly lost her cool in front of a group of high school students.
On October 24, Bakhtiari, though initially not the intended guest, accompanied Nic Cappon, her chief of staff, to an event at The New School (TNS) and was invited to participate in a discussion session with the students. The session started on a positive note, with Bakhtiari engaging with the students and sharing insights on issues she’s passionate about. However, things took an unforeseen detour.
The change in atmosphere started with a question, a completely reasonable one, relating to a recent incident Bakhtiari had with a security guard at Oakland Cemetery. Earlier in the month, there had been a confrontation which eventually led to the security guard losing their job. In the Q&A, one student inquired if the councilmember would help the guard find another job post-incident. This query seemed to set off Bakhtiari.
According to a student’s parent who wished to remain anonymous, they shared that the councilmember’s body language shifted almost immediately to one of aggression. Unexpectedly, Bakhtiari accused the student of being “racist, sexist, homophobic,” and laid out further harsh terms. After an overwhelming few minutes, needing a moment for herself, Bakhtiari left the session, stating she needed time to cool off.
The head of The New School, Peter Lefkowicz, was quick to take action following the incident, sending out emails to reassure both students and parents. In his communication, Lefkowicz stated that the student’s question about the incident was courteous, and the entire student group upheld respect during the event. He critically noted Bakhtiari’s outburst as unacceptable behavior, emphasizing that the students were wrongly subjected to such reactions despite their respectful approach.
Lefkowicz also took cautious measures to ensure the incident didn’t spiral into further public discussion – advising the school community to refrain from sharing details, particularly across social media platforms.
Bakhtiari has neither denied nor ignored the prior incident at Oakland Cemetery. The altercation, which took place on October 4, had already brought her to public attention. In a post made on social media, she expressed regret over the guard’s job loss, but also advocated for the safety of her friends during a wedding engagement at the cemetery, citing miscommunication from the security side.
Highlighting her background, Bakhtiari is a notable figure being the first queer Muslim and nonbinary person holding office in Georgia and Atlanta. Her role has always been distinctive, with a focus on representing District 5. While the recent occurrences have sparked conversations around her conduct, they bring attention to the balancing act of personal responsibility and public service.
As the community digests these events, one thing becomes clear; every public official faces scrutiny, and how one handles it can leave a lasting impression. Bakhtiari’s unexpected reaction has opened a dialogue about acceptable conduct in public-facing roles, especially when nurturing young minds who are the future stewards of the community.
