House Republicans Demand Garland Withdraw Memo Targeting Anti-CRT Parents

A number of House Republicans are demanding that Attorney General Merrick Garland withdraw a Department of Justice memo instructing the FBI to target anti-critical race theory parents that show up to school board meetings.

At the end of September, the National School Board Association sent a letter to the White House demanding that parents who have protested against school board meetings be labelled as “domestic terrorists,” because they are allegedly putting teachers under “immediate threat” from “physical violence.” The letter suggested that the parents could be persecuted by the FBI or DHS under the PATRIOT Act or other pieces of legislation.

In response, Attorney General Merrick Garland released a memo announcing it would, in fact, be weaponising the powers of the federal government against those concerned parents. “While spirited debate about policy matters is protected under our Constitution, that protection does not extend to threats of violence or efforts to intimidate individuals based on their views,” the memo read, adding that “threats against public servants are not only illegal, they run counter to our nation’s core values.” No evidence of any violent threats was presented.