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The Justice Department is launching an effort to tackle what it has called an “increase” in “threats of violence” against school officials and teachers across the country.
“Threats against public officials are not only illegal, they go against the fundamental values of our country,” Attorney General Garland said in a statement Monday. “Those who devote their time and energy to ensuring that our children receive an appropriate education in a safe environment deserve to be able to do their jobs without fear for their safety. “
Garland has ordered the FBI and U.S. Attorney’s offices to hold meetings with federal, state and local law enforcement officials over the next 30 days, during which they will discuss ways to combat what the DOJ called a “worrying trend” of harassment and threats against school officials. .
Critics say the move amounts to an attempt by the Biden administration to intimidate parents into exercising their First Amendment rights.
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The DOJ will also launch a task force to address the issue, while trying to determine how the federal government could use its powers to prosecute crimes and assist local law enforcement in incidents that are not federal crimes. .
Specialized training will also be offered to school boards and local administrators to help them recognize behaviors that pose a threat, as well as report incidents to the appropriate law enforcement agencies while preserving evidence to aid in the process. prosecution of crimes.
The move comes just four days after a leading organization representing school boards across the country called on the Biden administration and federal law enforcement agencies to help school boards, which the group said have saw an increase in violent threats in response to COVID-19 restrictions and critical race theory program.
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“As local and state law enforcement agencies work with public school officials in several communities to avoid further disruption to education services and school district operations, law enforcement officials in some jurisdictions need help, including monitoring threat levels, ”the national school said. The President of the Association of Boards, Viola Garcia, whose organization represents more than 90,000 school board members.
The Justice Department did not immediately respond to a request for comment from Fox News.
Alexandria Hoff of Fox News contributed to this article.
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