About Those Domestic-Terrorist Parents Merrick Garland should rescind his misguided school boards memo.
It took a few weeks, but the National School Boards Association has apologized for sending a letter to President Biden suggesting that “threats and acts of violence” at school board meetings might be “domestic terrorism.” The NSBA now admits there was “no justification for some of the language included in the letter,” which could have parents investigated under the Patriot Act for trying to influence what their children are taught.
The retraction comes after tremendous blow-back. First came parents at school board meetings with T-shirts saying “Parents are not domestic terrorists.” Then 21 state school board associations distanced themselves from the letter. The Ohio, Missouri and Pennsylvania state associations cut ties altogether.
It turns out that when Chip Slaven, the NSBA interim executive director and CEO, and president Viola Garcia sent the letter, they did so without consulting their own board. But according to one of Mr. Slaven’s emails, they did work with White House staff.
The NSBA has owned up to its mistake, but what about the Biden Administration? Days after the NSBA letter was sent, Attorney General Merrick Garland directed the FBI and U.S. Attorneys to intervene—without spelling out the federal authority or hard evidence for what the AG called a “disturbing spike in harassment, intimidation, and threats of violence.” This directive still stands.
Education Secretary Miguel Cardona announced on Oct. 13 that he appointed Ms. Garcia to the National Assessment Governing Board, which oversees the standardized tests known as “the Nation’s Report Card.” This appointment stands too, even after Ms. Garcia’s organization had to apologize for her letter.
Time for Mr. Garland to formally rescind his memo, calling off the FBI, and for Mr. Cardona to consider the message he is sending by elevating Ms. Garcia after she’s shown such poor, partisan judgment.
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