OPINION | This article contains commentary that reflects the author's opinion.
The Department of Justice has been out of control under the Biden administration.
Parents across the nation have begun speaking up for their children against overly restrictive coronavirus-related policies adopted by many public schools.
U.S. Attorney General Merrick Garland is “weaponizing the DOJ” against these parents by directing the FBI to investigate their protests.
Garland told the FBI and U.S. attorney offices to hold meetings with federal, state and local law enforcement leaders within 30 days.
The Biden administrations’ goal is to combat what the DOJ is describing as an “increase in harassment, intimidation and threats of violence against school board members, teachers and workers in our nation’s public schools.”
Florida Governor Ron DeSantis said, “Attorney General Garland is weaponizing the DOJ by using the FBI to pursue concerned parents and silence them through intimidation.”
“Florida will defend the free speech rights of its citizens and will not allow federal agents to squelch dissent,” he added.
DeSantis vows to fight against an order from Garland that directs the FBI to address threats of violence against school officials and teachers.
Over 60 Republican Members of Congress have joined the effort to fight back.
In a letter to the DOJ, Republicans are demanding answers as to why the Department is targeting parents who oppose Critical Race Theory (CRT) and mask mandates in schools.
Garland suggests parental opposition to school mandates, like mask mandates, and ideology, such as CRT, “could be the equivalent to a form of domestic terrorism and hate crimes.”
The letter questions the DOJ’s agenda to mobilize against parents.
The letter reads, in part, “As the top law enforcement officer in the United States, it is your responsibility to combat criminal behavior as well as defend the Constitutional rights of all Americans.”
“We hope you will take these duties seriously and not stifle free speech while moving forward with your investigations.”
Read the full letter here:
Today, I sent a letter to @TheJusticeDept to demand answers on why the DOJ is targeting parents who are opposing CRT and COVID mandates in our schools.
This politicization of our justice department is unheard of and unacceptable. Read below ⬇ pic.twitter.com/5jgz85GseS
— Representative Lisa McClain (@RepLisaMcClain) October 7, 2021
More from Townhall:
In Garland’s memo to the FBI, he wrote that there’s been a “disturbing spike in harassment, intimidation, and threats of violence against school administrators, board members, teachers, and staff who participate in the vital work of running our nation’s public schools.”
In the letter from Congress, they ask Garland for specific examples of “criminal conduct” perpetrated by parents toward school board members and for insight regarding how these investigations will be carried out. Furthermore, they emphasize how silencing parents who oppose ideology weaved into their child’s curriculum violates their Constitutional rights.
“During the COVID-19 pandemic, parents are taking notice of what and how their children are being taught in the classroom, hot-button social issues being weaved into the curriculum, and what safety protocols their child is supposed to follow while attending school. While some of these meetings may get heated, most of the parents who have been demanding these meetings have simply voiced their passions and concerns for their children and their futures.
While we agree with you that any threat of violence against these government officials should be condemned and investigated, no government official has the right to claim that a citizen may not peacefully speak out against government policies. Statements made by officials like former Governor Terry McAuliffe of Virginia, who publicly stated, ‘I don’t think parents should be telling schools what they should teach,’ are utterly unacceptable. Government officials need to recognize that in our Constitutional republic, they are elected to represent the public. While they should never be subjected to threats, they are not above criticism or disagreement from the citizens who elected them. If we are to live in a free society, it is your job as Attorney General of the United States to defend the rights of all citizens.”
