Attorney General Merrick Garland announced on Monday that the Department of Justice and the FBI are launching an effort to address the alleged increase in “threats” made against school officials.
According to a statement from the Department of Justice, Garland has directed “the FBI and U.S. Attorneys’ Offices to meet in the next 30 days with federal, state, Tribal, territorial and local law enforcement leaders to discuss strategies for addressing this disturbing trend.”
Furthermore, the agency will create guidance for schools officials to recognize threats against them and preserve evidence to give to law enforcement officers.
“Threats against public servants are not only illegal, they run counter to our nation’s core values,” wrote Garland. “Those who dedicate their time and energy to ensuring that our children receive a proper education in a safe environment deserve to be able to do their work without fear for their safety.”
Over the course of the last several months, many parents have spoken out against mandates in school systems and the attempts to teach specific curriculum, such as Critical Race Theory (CRT).
Therefore, critics of the measure implemented by the attorney general argued that Garland’s move is politically motivated and an attempt to silence the parents.
“Attorney General Garland is weaponizing the DOJ by using the FBI to pursue concerned parents and silence them through intimidation,” Florida Governor Ron DeSantis tweeted in response to the announcement. “Florida will defend the free speech rights of its citizens and will not allow federal agents to squelch dissent.”
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.
— Ron DeSantis (@GovRonDeSantis) October 5, 2021
“One of the hopeful things happening in our country is parents mobilizing against Critical Race Theory. Merrick Garland has decided those uppity patriots must be silenced. We won’t let him,” added best-selling author and U.S. Senate candidate JD Vance.
One of the hopeful things happening in our country is parents mobilizing against Critical Race Theory. Merrick Garland has decided those uppity patriots must be silenced. We won’t let him. https://t.co/7okQHMFzAa
— J.D. Vance (@JDVance1) October 5, 2021
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Cooper Moran is a reporter for The Star News Network. Follow Cooper on Twitter. Email tips to [email protected]
Photo “FBI Field office” by Tony Webster CC BY-SA 2.0.
