“Vile Woman”: Teacher Resigns Over Controversial T-Shirt Worn During White House Class Trip
A teacher from Indiana resigned after she wore a T-shirt with the number 8647 on a school excursion to the White House.
The number is a code with the first two digits (86) representing “cancellation” in the restaurant industry and among radical groups “end life.” The second two points to the current president, Donald Trump, as he is America’s 47th president.
- The teacher from Indiana uploaded the photo of herself in the 8647 T-shirt to social media.
- The school saw the photo and launched an investigation.
- The teacher resigned a day later with immediate effect.
The woman, Tonja Luken, posted a photo of herself in the custom-printed garment in front of America’s seat of power, which caused a furore that led to a school district investigation and the termination of her social media accounts.
The Indiana education authority has since released a statement distancing itself from the scandal.
The school distanced itself from the teacher with a public notice
Image credits: middleburycs
“Middlebury Community Schools owns policies that require teachers to refrain from using their position to promote partisan political views,” the organization wrote on their Facebook account on June 5.
The school district went on to say that it had become aware of a “social media post made by a teacher while serving as a chaperone on a student trip to our nation’s capital, Washington, D.C.”
Image credits: Tim Luken
“In the posted photograph, the teacher is wearing a T-shirt possessing a partisan political message while supervising students.”
It further noted that an investigation, though hampered by the delayed return of the school trip, was ongoing.
When she heard that the school district planned on canceling her contract, she resigned
Image credits: Tim Luken
A day later, the school district announced it had found a convenient solution to the scandal.
In another Facebook post, they wrote:
“After the conclusion of the school corporation’s interview, when informed the school corporation would be commencing the cancellation of contract, the teacher submitted her immediate resignation.
“The teacher is no longer employed by the school corporation.”
Social media thinks it is “scary” she was allowed so close to the White House
Middlebury Community Schools owns policies that require teachers to refrain from using their position to promote…
Posted by Middlebury Community Schools on Wednesday, June 4, 2025
Social media has since weighed in on a post by Libs of TikTok on X, and despite what the account’s name suggests, there was little empathy for Luken.
One netizen took issue with the idea that an individual tasked with shaping children’s minds was advocating violence.
“Teachers who form opinions for our children should absolutely not be advocating assassination of anyone,” they wrote.
Image credits: Getty Images
Another found it “scary” that the Secret Service let her so close the White House.
One commenter noted the woman, Luken, wearing a shirt advocating a assassination while posing next to a colleague with a rainbow on their shirt and the words “be kind.”
“How ironic,” the netizen observed.
It is not the first time the code made it to the spotlight
Image credits: middleburycs
A variation of the numeric sequence, 8645, was used in association with Donald Trump, during his first presidential term when the number occurred on bumper stickers and T-shirts—which are still for sale on Amazon.
When his successor, Joe Biden took the Oval Office in 2020, the number 8646 appeared, marking dissent from right wing elements unhappy with the liberal administration.
Posted by Nancy Ganshorn on Wednesday, June 4, 2025
More recently, former FBI director, James Comey, who was fired by Trump in 2017, posted a pic of sea shells on beach sand marking out the number 8647, and captioned it “cool shell formation on my beach walk.”
The photo drew reprisals from Republicans with Trump’s son, Trump Jr, summing up the conservative camp’s interpretation of the numbers:
“Just James Comey casually calling for my dad to be murdered,” he wrote.
Image credits: Tim Luken
Comey, following a reaction from Kristi Noem who heads up the Homeland Security Secretary and oversees the Secret service, removed the image from his Instagram account.
He later claimed in an interview with MSNBC, that he did not know the numerical sequence alluded to death.
The term was not always associated with the threat of violence
Indiana law requires all public school corporations to follow a statutorily prescribed process for the termination of a…
Posted by Middlebury Community Schools on Thursday, June 5, 2025
According to America’s oldest Dictionary publisher, Merriam-Webster, the number 86 actually means “to throw out,” “to get rid of,” or “to refuse service to.”
It originated in the 1930s when it was used as slang over soda counters to explain that an item was out of stock.
Image credits: Tim Luken
The word took a verbal tone when it became paraphrased for refusing a customer service, where after it made its way into bars, where its meaning evolved into evicting drunk patrons.
The association of 86 with demise, according to the dictionary, is a recent and rare thing, and so it has not been included.
Luken is not the internet’s favorite teacher after her 8647 stunt
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After all the absolutely vile acts from Trump and MAGA, this is outrageous? Pffft! Miss me with that b******t...
A famous Rock band once said in an interview, "We are going to sing songs about the devil." The host replied, "Isn't that going to limit your audience and record sales?" The band said, "No not at all, decent people don't listen to our music."
Load More Replies...As a former bartender, to '86' someone is to ban them from the premises. Period. End of sentence.
Yeah when someone is 86'd we escort them out and ask them not to return, we don't k**l them. Violent and abhorrent behavior is usually the reason they are 86'd to begin with.
Load More Replies...Now it seems it’s free speech only if you compliment Donald TACO.
Load More Replies...I clicked on this post thinking the outrage was over the Be Kind shirt.
So MAGA built an actual gallows on the Capitol lawn and they are wondering why Sec. Serv. didn't stop someone with a logo t-shirt? Are these people serious right now? These same people who had shirts with Clinton's head in the cross-hairs of a rifle scope, who made and sold and wore 8646 t-shirts with impunity, are calling this woman vile for her 8647 shirt? Seriously!!??!!
If we 86 broccoli we aren’t assassinating that broccoli… we are out or done with it. this is the most ridiculous thing I’ve ever seen. What about free speech. I’m honestly scared to live here.
I imagine the only people that have a problem with a t-shirt slogan are the kind of people that believe stamping on a policeman, or storming the Capitol building in a "peaceful protest". There were plenty of these "offended" people happily saying the same thing about Biden. "Land of the free"? Don't make me laugh.
The orange felon led an insurection against the capitol bldg. and his men were going to hang VP Pence. MAGA put him back in the White House. That's worse.
Not only magats but the undecided made it a majority. Welcome to russia v2.0
Load More Replies...While '8647' is absolutely not a threat of violence, it IS a political statement, and teachers are supposed to refrain from those; she knew better. (But probably shouldn't be fired if it's a first offense).
The 9th Circuit already ruled that a teacher's MAGA hat was protected speech and not a disruption. https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/former-teacher-wore-maga-hat-school-was-protected-first-amendment-cour-rcna64210
Load More Replies...86 meaning "get rid of" - sure, I have heard of that. Like - on Saturday Morning Cartoons; it's got a rich history of innocent, even humorous use . 86 meaning specifically "murder" - seems like a MAGA invention. Eek, look how nasty the libs are - they're responding to fascism by advocating assassination. Give me a f*****g break. Killing him would make him seem a martyr, terribly counterproductive. Impeach and imprison instead.
Calling her "vile" in headline is pretty biased don't you think. She seems more hero that vile teacher in my opinion. What happened to Bored Panada I don't remember it being so afraid to upset the MAGA applecart. Show me a decent human that doesn't want to 86 a s*x offender convict.
Cancel the president? Like, impeach the convicted felon who’s broken so many laws that we no longer trust any federal institutions? I’m carrying my passport with me in my own country because some UNTRAINED ICE AGENTS have ignored RealIDs several times.
When did 86 start to mean 'murder'? It means someone has to go, it means they have to leave. It is appropriate here because Trump should absolutely be forced to leave the White House, due to his outright baneful hatred of the constitution. Y'know, the one he swore to uphold but has definitely never read? Not that he'd be able to comprehend most of it anyway.
In 2019, a middle school science teacher in Washington State wore a MAGA hat to a cultural sensitivity and racial bias faculty training event. He was verbally reprimanded by the principal and told to, "use better judgement." He later sued the school and won. The 9th Circuit Court of Appeals found that his apparel was protected under the First Amendment and did not constitute a tangible disruption to the operation of the school.
She should have sued for violation of her right to free speech. Civil service employees are not allowed to promote their political views while at work/during work functions, but they are allowed to have their say after work, up and including protesting. There is no such rule for teachers, unless specifically spelled out in their contract. 8647
Load More Replies...🤣🤣🤣 Bunch of hypocritical snowflakes. The US Republican Party raised funds selling 8646 merchandise. But apparently, 8647 isn't allowed. So, by Trumpian reasoning, threatening to mvrder Joe Biden is just fine and dandy. You can still buy an 8646 tee shirt here: https://www.amazon.com/8646-Republican-Trump-86-T-Shirt/dp/B09FHMNZ51
Hey, maybe they *are* stupid enough to think that 86 means kill -- when Biden was President, they were selling merch saying "8646".
They are still selling 8646 merch - Trump is obviously fine with his supporters calling for the mvrder of Joe Biden 😂. https://www.amazon.com/8646-Republican-Trump-86-T-Shirt/dp/B09FHMNZ51
Load More Replies...I love the shirt but as someone who works in the school system it is important to maintain neutrality. I do not agree with her resigning. I am assuming there was a bit of pressure for her to do so. 8647!
It's always been a restaurant thing. "86 the veal cutlet" means that we are out of veal cutlets. Nothing more.
Load More Replies...The level of pearl clutching is hilarious. 86 means cancel an unavailable dish, or to remove a disruptive individual. Pick your battles children.
If you don't support her right to wear this shirt, then you don't support freedom of speech.
I'm a teacher and agree about we shouldn't be wearing clothing that shows our political beliefs. In any situation and whatever your beliefs, politics always alienates someone, and that is the last thing I want to do as a teacher. I also can't believe people jumped to the extreme of 86=k**l instead of 86=cancel, which is how I interpreted it. I mean "86 those fries" are you telling me the cook is stabbing or strangling them? 🙄
I'm a very political person, working since I was nine years old in JFK's campaign. But none of my students had the slightest idea what my positions on public questions were. Those positions never came up in any class discussion. The Second Fundamental Theorem of Calculus does not take a stand on gay marriage or tax equity.
I absolutely hate that Piece of Total Utter Sh*t in office. However, if I was representing my school and was at the White House for my job I wouldn't have worn that. I would want to wear it and destroy his portrait, etc. but I would've held back.
This is nuts. She woke up that morning thinking: (a) To 86 means to kick someone out, of COURSE not to k**l them. FTLOG, she's a school teacher, not a mercenary. (b) That freedom of speech was still functionally in tact. I worry for her safety now that her identity is known. America is a tinderbox.
I have never heard the term 'being 86'd' being used in any way except to 'throw out' eg like a drunk from a bar. Why are people SO outraged? I certainly think this is unsuitable for a school trip as it IS partisan but I know that this faux outrage is manufactured by MAGA morons..
Trump's outraged because she hadn't bought one of his supporter's "8646" tee-shirts - the problem is that the money's going to the opposition, not him. You can still buy 8646 tee-shirts which (if Trump's to be believed) are calling for the mvrder of Joe Biden: https://www.amazon.com/8646-Republican-Trump-86-T-Shirt/dp/B09FHMNZ51
Load More Replies...Click bait. If anyone believed the renarks made on here they'd think the US was on s******l self distruct. Oh wait...
I totally expected the lady in the rainbow shirt to be canceled for “pushing a gay agenda” or something stupid like that
The chuds were literally doing this with Biden but now that people are doing it with Trump, they deem it an actual threat of violence? Just more projection because you would only take it that way if you deemed it violent with Biden. lmao
I wonder if a t-shirt with 88 would have resulted in her losing her job. I have the strongest suspicion it wouldn't 🙄
If her shirt said 187-47 I can see why people would be upset. She didn't. (187 is the police code for a homicide.)
I completely agree with her, but she should have known that wearing it would get her fired.
Very young kids, probably not. Teen-agers - possibly.
Load More Replies...According to the Google AI search: In military and law enforcement slang, "86" means to eliminate, remove, or get rid of. It's also used to refer to refusing service or throwing someone out, particularly in a restaurant setting. The term's origins are debated, but it's often linked to 1930s soda-counter slang where it meant something was sold out. I've always known it in the military sense of throwing something away because it was no long usable, never in the termination sense - but this is America, so it could be different.
OH! mr 47 All of our problems are in your head. A very bad case of the imaginaries that infant, Angel number 8 represents abundance, power, and spiritual growth. The angel number 647 is a message to trust your creativity and spiritual growth for positive transformations...... found on a beach ffs .... it is a personal prayer..... found on a flowered T it's still a sigil.
Definitely no fan of Trump, but this was neither the time nor the place to express your views. She should have known better.
I don't see that this article is about politics. She was exercising her right to free speech. It isn't outrageous. It's even clever. She is not under arrest. She is fired though. Her employer did not like that she wore the shirt on an employer sponsored trip. That is "employment at will" in action. Every job I've worked in modern times has a class outlining the employer's policy on what the employees can and can't do or say on social media, or what they can wear in photos on employer sponsored trips. While she is likely being lauded and toasted for having the bells to wear her shirt at the capitol and getting a photo for proof by every Democrat in America, she is still out of a job. I do not have hope that she can get another one in her field, unless it's as an online course instructor. Think before you act, folks, and make sure it's good enough to make up for the consequences from an a**h*ley boss.
After all the absolutely vile acts from Trump and MAGA, this is outrageous? Pffft! Miss me with that b******t...
A famous Rock band once said in an interview, "We are going to sing songs about the devil." The host replied, "Isn't that going to limit your audience and record sales?" The band said, "No not at all, decent people don't listen to our music."
Load More Replies...As a former bartender, to '86' someone is to ban them from the premises. Period. End of sentence.
Yeah when someone is 86'd we escort them out and ask them not to return, we don't k**l them. Violent and abhorrent behavior is usually the reason they are 86'd to begin with.
Load More Replies...Now it seems it’s free speech only if you compliment Donald TACO.
Load More Replies...I clicked on this post thinking the outrage was over the Be Kind shirt.
So MAGA built an actual gallows on the Capitol lawn and they are wondering why Sec. Serv. didn't stop someone with a logo t-shirt? Are these people serious right now? These same people who had shirts with Clinton's head in the cross-hairs of a rifle scope, who made and sold and wore 8646 t-shirts with impunity, are calling this woman vile for her 8647 shirt? Seriously!!??!!
If we 86 broccoli we aren’t assassinating that broccoli… we are out or done with it. this is the most ridiculous thing I’ve ever seen. What about free speech. I’m honestly scared to live here.
I imagine the only people that have a problem with a t-shirt slogan are the kind of people that believe stamping on a policeman, or storming the Capitol building in a "peaceful protest". There were plenty of these "offended" people happily saying the same thing about Biden. "Land of the free"? Don't make me laugh.
The orange felon led an insurection against the capitol bldg. and his men were going to hang VP Pence. MAGA put him back in the White House. That's worse.
Not only magats but the undecided made it a majority. Welcome to russia v2.0
Load More Replies...While '8647' is absolutely not a threat of violence, it IS a political statement, and teachers are supposed to refrain from those; she knew better. (But probably shouldn't be fired if it's a first offense).
The 9th Circuit already ruled that a teacher's MAGA hat was protected speech and not a disruption. https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/former-teacher-wore-maga-hat-school-was-protected-first-amendment-cour-rcna64210
Load More Replies...86 meaning "get rid of" - sure, I have heard of that. Like - on Saturday Morning Cartoons; it's got a rich history of innocent, even humorous use . 86 meaning specifically "murder" - seems like a MAGA invention. Eek, look how nasty the libs are - they're responding to fascism by advocating assassination. Give me a f*****g break. Killing him would make him seem a martyr, terribly counterproductive. Impeach and imprison instead.
Calling her "vile" in headline is pretty biased don't you think. She seems more hero that vile teacher in my opinion. What happened to Bored Panada I don't remember it being so afraid to upset the MAGA applecart. Show me a decent human that doesn't want to 86 a s*x offender convict.
Cancel the president? Like, impeach the convicted felon who’s broken so many laws that we no longer trust any federal institutions? I’m carrying my passport with me in my own country because some UNTRAINED ICE AGENTS have ignored RealIDs several times.
When did 86 start to mean 'murder'? It means someone has to go, it means they have to leave. It is appropriate here because Trump should absolutely be forced to leave the White House, due to his outright baneful hatred of the constitution. Y'know, the one he swore to uphold but has definitely never read? Not that he'd be able to comprehend most of it anyway.
In 2019, a middle school science teacher in Washington State wore a MAGA hat to a cultural sensitivity and racial bias faculty training event. He was verbally reprimanded by the principal and told to, "use better judgement." He later sued the school and won. The 9th Circuit Court of Appeals found that his apparel was protected under the First Amendment and did not constitute a tangible disruption to the operation of the school.
She should have sued for violation of her right to free speech. Civil service employees are not allowed to promote their political views while at work/during work functions, but they are allowed to have their say after work, up and including protesting. There is no such rule for teachers, unless specifically spelled out in their contract. 8647
Load More Replies...🤣🤣🤣 Bunch of hypocritical snowflakes. The US Republican Party raised funds selling 8646 merchandise. But apparently, 8647 isn't allowed. So, by Trumpian reasoning, threatening to mvrder Joe Biden is just fine and dandy. You can still buy an 8646 tee shirt here: https://www.amazon.com/8646-Republican-Trump-86-T-Shirt/dp/B09FHMNZ51
Hey, maybe they *are* stupid enough to think that 86 means kill -- when Biden was President, they were selling merch saying "8646".
They are still selling 8646 merch - Trump is obviously fine with his supporters calling for the mvrder of Joe Biden 😂. https://www.amazon.com/8646-Republican-Trump-86-T-Shirt/dp/B09FHMNZ51
Load More Replies...I love the shirt but as someone who works in the school system it is important to maintain neutrality. I do not agree with her resigning. I am assuming there was a bit of pressure for her to do so. 8647!
It's always been a restaurant thing. "86 the veal cutlet" means that we are out of veal cutlets. Nothing more.
Load More Replies...The level of pearl clutching is hilarious. 86 means cancel an unavailable dish, or to remove a disruptive individual. Pick your battles children.
If you don't support her right to wear this shirt, then you don't support freedom of speech.
I'm a teacher and agree about we shouldn't be wearing clothing that shows our political beliefs. In any situation and whatever your beliefs, politics always alienates someone, and that is the last thing I want to do as a teacher. I also can't believe people jumped to the extreme of 86=k**l instead of 86=cancel, which is how I interpreted it. I mean "86 those fries" are you telling me the cook is stabbing or strangling them? 🙄
I'm a very political person, working since I was nine years old in JFK's campaign. But none of my students had the slightest idea what my positions on public questions were. Those positions never came up in any class discussion. The Second Fundamental Theorem of Calculus does not take a stand on gay marriage or tax equity.
I absolutely hate that Piece of Total Utter Sh*t in office. However, if I was representing my school and was at the White House for my job I wouldn't have worn that. I would want to wear it and destroy his portrait, etc. but I would've held back.
This is nuts. She woke up that morning thinking: (a) To 86 means to kick someone out, of COURSE not to k**l them. FTLOG, she's a school teacher, not a mercenary. (b) That freedom of speech was still functionally in tact. I worry for her safety now that her identity is known. America is a tinderbox.
I have never heard the term 'being 86'd' being used in any way except to 'throw out' eg like a drunk from a bar. Why are people SO outraged? I certainly think this is unsuitable for a school trip as it IS partisan but I know that this faux outrage is manufactured by MAGA morons..
Trump's outraged because she hadn't bought one of his supporter's "8646" tee-shirts - the problem is that the money's going to the opposition, not him. You can still buy 8646 tee-shirts which (if Trump's to be believed) are calling for the mvrder of Joe Biden: https://www.amazon.com/8646-Republican-Trump-86-T-Shirt/dp/B09FHMNZ51
Load More Replies...Click bait. If anyone believed the renarks made on here they'd think the US was on s******l self distruct. Oh wait...
I totally expected the lady in the rainbow shirt to be canceled for “pushing a gay agenda” or something stupid like that
The chuds were literally doing this with Biden but now that people are doing it with Trump, they deem it an actual threat of violence? Just more projection because you would only take it that way if you deemed it violent with Biden. lmao
I wonder if a t-shirt with 88 would have resulted in her losing her job. I have the strongest suspicion it wouldn't 🙄
If her shirt said 187-47 I can see why people would be upset. She didn't. (187 is the police code for a homicide.)
I completely agree with her, but she should have known that wearing it would get her fired.
Very young kids, probably not. Teen-agers - possibly.
Load More Replies...According to the Google AI search: In military and law enforcement slang, "86" means to eliminate, remove, or get rid of. It's also used to refer to refusing service or throwing someone out, particularly in a restaurant setting. The term's origins are debated, but it's often linked to 1930s soda-counter slang where it meant something was sold out. I've always known it in the military sense of throwing something away because it was no long usable, never in the termination sense - but this is America, so it could be different.
OH! mr 47 All of our problems are in your head. A very bad case of the imaginaries that infant, Angel number 8 represents abundance, power, and spiritual growth. The angel number 647 is a message to trust your creativity and spiritual growth for positive transformations...... found on a beach ffs .... it is a personal prayer..... found on a flowered T it's still a sigil.
Definitely no fan of Trump, but this was neither the time nor the place to express your views. She should have known better.
I don't see that this article is about politics. She was exercising her right to free speech. It isn't outrageous. It's even clever. She is not under arrest. She is fired though. Her employer did not like that she wore the shirt on an employer sponsored trip. That is "employment at will" in action. Every job I've worked in modern times has a class outlining the employer's policy on what the employees can and can't do or say on social media, or what they can wear in photos on employer sponsored trips. While she is likely being lauded and toasted for having the bells to wear her shirt at the capitol and getting a photo for proof by every Democrat in America, she is still out of a job. I do not have hope that she can get another one in her field, unless it's as an online course instructor. Think before you act, folks, and make sure it's good enough to make up for the consequences from an a**h*ley boss.



















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