Garland appeals to FBI in response to “worrying spike” in threats against educators



[ad_1]

Key context: Department of Justice plans mark a notable escalation in the government’s response to protestor-filled school board meetings denouncing Covid-19 mask warrants, political interpretations of critical race theory, and other issues highly politicized that affect classroom learning and school safety.

Last week, the National School Boards Association lobbied President Joe Biden for federal help to determine whether violence and threats against public school officials could be considered a form of domestic terrorism and hate crimes. .

“America’s public schools and its education leaders are under immediate threat,” the group said written to Biden.

“These threats and acts of violence are affecting our country’s democracy at the most basic levels, forcing school board members – many of whom are unpaid – to immediately resign and / or discontinue their service after their respective terms,” ​​said said school board officials.

Looking forward: In response, Garland called on the FBI and federal prosecutors to meet with federal, state, local, tribal and territorial leaders in each Federal Judicial District over the next 30 days to “facilitate discussion of strategies to combat threats. “against school administrators, board members. , educators and staff.

“The Department takes these incidents seriously and is committed to using its authority and resources to deter these threats, identify them when they occur and prosecute them where appropriate,” Garland wrote.

[ad_2]

Source link