LEWISTON, Maine – A former Lewiston city councilor is facing growing criticism after a local educator was temporarily placed on administrative leave following the circulation of what critics say was a misleadingly edited video clip from a recent community forum on gun violence.
Former Councilor Safiya Khalid publicly posted accusations against the educator after the individual spoke during Wednesday night’s community conversation on youth violence in Lewiston, an event organized to address the city’s ongoing surge in shootings involving juveniles.
In a social media post, Khalid claimed the teacher “referred to children in a way that I find deeply disturbing and dehumanizing,” and urged community members to contact school officials to demand the educator’s dismissal.
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“Our kids deserve educators who believe in them,” Khalid wrote. “Let’s email the superintendent, school committee to dismiss this teacher.”
According to individuals familiar with the situation, Khalid allegedly distributed an edited version of video footage obtained from Maine Wire social media coverage of the event to Lewiston school administrators.
The educator was initially placed on administrative leave while administrators reviewed the allegations.
However, after school officials reviewed the full, unedited footage of the event, the educator was reportedly cleared to return to work, according to multiple sources.
The controversy quickly spilled onto local social media pages, where residents questioned why school officials allegedly acted before reviewing the complete video.
One post circulating in the Lewiston Matters Facebook group accused Khalid of “cutting and pasting” the footage in an effort to have the educator fired and criticized administrators for allegedly accepting the claims without independently reviewing the full context.
The incident has further inflamed tensions surrounding public discussions over crime, youth violence, and community accountability in Lewiston.
Khalid has a long and contentious history with the Maine Wire and its staff. In previous public comments and social media posts, she has accused the Maine Wire of racism and referred to Editor-in-Chief Steve Robinson as a “neo-Nazi.”
She has also clashed publicly with Maine Wire Senior Reporter Jon Fetherston during city meetings and public events. During one confrontation inside Lewiston City Hall chambers, Khalid became physically animated and pushed Fetherston during a heated exchange.
Community members involved with Wednesday night’s anti-violence forum also accused Khalid of discouraging members of Lewiston’s Somali community from attending the event.
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The community meeting itself focused on the growing number of shootings involving juveniles in Lewiston, including several recent incidents in which teenagers have allegedly exchanged gunfire in residential neighborhoods.
Critics of Khalid’s actions say the attempt to target an educator who participated in a public discussion about youth violence only deepens divisions at a time when the city should be focused on solutions.
As Lewiston continues grappling with the reality of children shooting children, many residents say political attacks, manipulated narratives, and public smear campaigns are the last thing the city needs.
The Maine Wire is considering possible legal action related to the edited video and the alleged effort to cause reputational and professional harm through the circulation of misleading material.
