A longtime preschool teacher with the Santa Barbara County Education Office (SBCEO) has been placed on paid administrative leave after a video was made public of her engaging in a physical confrontation with a group of peaceful protesters.

The incident took place Saturday on the corner of H Street and Ocean Avenue in Lompoc as demonstrators gathered to protest ICE operations in the area. 

The 57-second video shows Rebecca Arreola ― a teacher and coach in SBCEO’s Early Care and Education programs ― first mocking the group by shouting, “Deportation!” before starting to spell out the word as a cheer. “Gimme a D!” she says.

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