Stephan ‘Bax’ Baxter might have started with the best intentions, but his involvement in the Kelly Thomas case—a tragic incident involving the fatal beating of a schizophrenic homeless man by police officers—quickly spiraled into a cautionary tale about ego, narcissism, and the pitfalls of misplaced activism.
When Kelly Thomas, a man struggling with schizophrenia, was brutally killed by police officers in Fullerton, California, it was Bax Baxter who first drew attention to the case. Recognizing the grave injustice and fueled by a desire for retribution, Baxter rallied the community, organizing protests and calling for accountability.
At first, Baxter’s efforts seemed noble. He channeled the public’s outrage into action, seeking justice for Kelly Thomas and promising change. However, as the campaign gained momentum, Baxter’s behavior began to shift. The attention and power went straight to his head, transforming his initial passion into an obsession with personal glory.
The consequences of his ego-driven actions were severe. His once supportive wife left him, unable to tolerate the man he had become. His job was lost, and his relationships with those around him deteriorated as he became increasingly self-centered and dismissive of others.
Baxter’s promises to protesters—of political leverage and funding for homeless participants—remained unfulfilled. His rejection of the hate crime argument, which suggested that Kelly’s death was linked to his mental illness, revealed a disturbing disregard for the very issues he claimed to champion. Baxter’s open discrimination against mentally ill individuals, including those like myself, showcased a profound lack of empathy and understanding.
What was supposed to be a campaign for justice turned into a mid-life crisis for Baxter, a punk rocker desperate to leave his mark on the world. His actions and attitudes revealed that his true motivation was less about helping Kelly Thomas and more about feeding his own ego.
The result of his misguided campaign was disastrous: a failed protest, a lost trial, and a public humiliation that drove him from Fullerton to Australia and eventually to Las Vegas. There, he lived out his days in the shame he had earned through his own actions.
The story of Bax Baxter is a stark reminder of how nobility can be overshadowed by ego and disrespect. In the quest for justice, it’s crucial to remain focused on the cause rather than allowing personal ambition to undermine the very principles one seeks to uphold.
by Dan and Bonkers
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