THE NATIONAL SCHOOL BOARDS ASSOCIATION APOLOGIZES FOR LETTER CALLING PARENTS DOMESTIC TERRORISTS

On October 22, the NSBA Board of Directors wrote a letter to all NSBA Members in response to national attention in regards to a letter that called on the Biden administration to investigate whether alleged threats against school-board members constituted domestic terrorism.

The initial letter, sent on September 29, asked the administration to investigate whether alleged threats to school-board members, over masking policies and “propaganda purporting the false inclusion of critical race theory” in lessons, necessitated federal investigation. In response to the letter, U.S. attorney general Merrick Garland ordered the FBI and U.S. Attorney’s Offices to investigate those alleged threats. Most of the incidents cited by the NSBA did not involve threats of physical violence.

Twelve state-level school boards in Pennsylvania, New Hampshire, Texas, Pennsylvania, Florida, Arkansas, Missouri, Montana, North Carolina, and Tennessee joined Louisiana and Virginia in taking a stance against the NSBA’s letter, according to the Washington Examiner. None of them were consulted beforehand. They are disavowing the targeted attack against parents who are protesting at school board meetings concerning what their children are being taught, as well as mask and vaccine mandates. These parents are simply exercising their First Amendment rights and states are stepping forward to protect them from federal persecution over it.

“As you all know, there has been extensive media and other attention recently around our letter to President Biden regarding threats and acts of violence against school board members,” the memorandum states. “On behalf of NSBA, we regret and apologize for this letter. . . . There was no justification for some of the language included in this letter.”

The letter goes on to say, “As we’ve reiterated since the letter was sent, we deeply value not only the work of local school boards that make important contributions within our communities, but also the voices of parents, who should and must continue to be heard when it comes to decisions about their children’s education, health and safety.”