Garland taps FBI in response to 'disturbing spike' in threats against educators

[left-of-center2012]

Source: Finance.yahoo

Juan Perez Jr.
Mon, October 4, 2021, 1:42 PM
Attorney General Merrick Garland on Monday ordered federal law enforcement authorities to huddle with local leaders in the coming weeks to address what the nation’s top prosecutor called a recent “disturbing spike in harassment, intimidation, and threats of violence” against educators and school board members.

The Justice Department also unveiled a series of additional measures to “address the rise in criminal conduct directed toward school personnel,” Garland wrote in a memorandum to federal prosecutors and FBI Director Christopher Wray.

“Threats against public servants are not only illegal, they run counter to our nation's core values,” Garland wrote. “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.”

Key context: The Justice Department’s plans mark a notable escalation of the government’s response to school board meetings packed with protestors who denounce Covid-19 mask mandates, political interpretations of critical race theory and other highly-politicized issues that affect classroom learning and school safety.

Read more: https://finance.yahoo.com/news/garland-taps-fbi-response-disturbing-194237110.html

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Last week, the National School Boards Association pressed President Joe Biden for federal assistance to review 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 an immediate threat,” the group wrote to Biden. “These threats and acts of violence are affecting our nation’s democracy at the very foundational levels, causing school board members – many who are not paid – to resign immediately and/or discontinue their service after their respective terms,” the school board officials said.

[jpak]

1. Good

Terrorist fucks

Yup

[Ocelot II]

2. I thought Garland was just sitting by the pool drinking Mimosas.

[LetMyPeopleVote]

3. Thank you AG Garland

Link to tweet

[AZSkiffyGeek]

4. But he's not doing it fast enough!!!!!!

Because Justice delayed or some t-shirt slogan....

/s

[OAITW r.2.0]

5. You can't count on local LEO's to police this kind of intimidation, but it ought

to be a serious federal crime as it involves an organized crime party that works outside of state lines

[Baitball Blogger]

6. Took them long enough.

[PSPS]

7. Start cleaning out the leftover trumpists embedded in the FBI and the DOJ. They will sabotage this.

[Captain Zero]

8. Next will come attacks on college and university teachers

nt

[orangecrush]

12. Same as the nazis.

[bucolic_frolic]

9. From what I've heard

these are not spontaneous, grass roots protests and occupations, though they are made to appear that way. There is organized hedge fund money behind some of them, conservative Christian operatives. Rabble rousing by email and newsletter.

[orangecrush]

13. Agree 100%.

[Hekate]

10. KnR

[LetMyPeopleVote]

11. The Justice Department scrambles to address school board threats

The Justice Department is taking threats against school boards seriously.

Link to tweet

In recent months, there have been unsettling intimidation campaigns, largely from the far-right, targeting election officials and public health officials. But let's not forget about education officials, who are dealing with the same scourge.

As my MSNBC colleague Ja'han Jones explained last week, the National School Boards Association requested federal law enforcement assistance to address the escalating instances of harassment and acts of intimidation local officials are having to deal with.

As The Associated Press reported this morning, the Justice Department appears to be taking the matter seriously.

Attorney General Merrick Garland on Monday directed federal authorities to hold strategy sessions in the next 30 days with law enforcement to address the increasing threats targeting school board members, teachers and other employees in the nation's public schools. In a memorandum, Garland said there has 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."

The AP's report added that the attorney general intends to direct the FBI to work with U.S. attorneys and federal, state, local, territorial, and tribal authorities to address the threats.

"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," Garland said.

[orangecrush]

14. Good news