Sonya Holt: Elizabethton’s “Karen” goes viral in racist video
Published 1:18 pm Tuesday, July 7, 2020
- Screenshot from video by Sierra Gilmer of Sonya Holt on July 4.
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“White Lives Matter” was the chant of a woman during a protest for the recent Black Lives Matter movement over the Fourth of July holiday in downtown Elizabethton.
The woman identified herself as Sonya Holt to a local news station but has been nicknamed “Karen”
by online viewers.
Her racist remarks were captured on video by 16-year-old Sierra Gilmer, an activist and board member of the New Generation Freedom Fighters with the video going viral with hundreds of thousands of views online through Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and even Reddit.
“White lives matter,” the woman can be heard shouting in the video. “White lives matter, you black, twisted, crazy person!”
She proceeded to make derogatory statements to protestors in between her chants about white lives for the remainder of the video.
Following the video being posted online, rumors began to circulate that she was employed with Carter County Schools, prompting the school system to respond.
“It has come to our attention that a video has been widely circulated of a woman at the protest in Elizabethton on July 4th with people saying she is an employee of Carter County Schools. Please be informed that this person is not employed by the school district,” the statement read.
It was later stated she worked for a Johnson City vision company, however she is no longer employed there.
The name ‘Karen’ is defined by Urban Dictionary as, “The stereotypical name associated with rude, obnoxious and insufferable middle-aged white women.”
Alongside Holt was a man in the video going along with the things she was saying and chiming in as well. The man is a former employee at Big Dan’s BBQ in Elizabethton.
The restaurant’s owner, Dan Britt responded in the statement on Facebook saying, “It has come to my attention that a former employee of mine was at the park demonstration yesterday. I was sent a video of him spewing angry slurs.
“LET ME BE CLEAR I WOULD NEVER AGREE WITH OR CONDONE SUCH BEHAVIOR. HE NO LONGER WORKS HERE BUT IF HE DID I WOULD I WOULD TERMINATE HIM. I am also sad that my family has been affected by this.
“I, Dan, or my business will NEVER put up with ANY form of hatred. I rebuke any hate with all my heart and soul. Sincerely, Dan Britt.”
