The National School Boards Association issued a hasty apology on Friday night in connection to a letter they sent to the Biden administration complaining about parents speaking up at school board meetings and the potential for domestic terrorism.
“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 NSBA stated in the letter to NSBA members. “We wanted to write to you directly to address this matter.”
“On behalf of NSBA, we regret and apologize for the letter. To be clear, the safety of school board members, other public school officials, and students is our top priority, and there remains important work to be done on this issue,” the organization claimed.
“However, there was no justification for some of the language included in the letter. We should have had a better process in place to allow for consultation on a communication of this significance. We apologize also for the strain and stress this situation has caused you and your organizations,” the NSBA continued.
The letter also said that “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.”
The original letter that was sent by the NSBA, and was co-signed by association CEO Chip Slaven and President Viola Garcia, resulted in Attorney General Merrick Garland instructing the FBI to form a task force to address perceived threats against school officials and to create a methodology for reporting those threats. It has also been revealed that NSBA board members collaborated with the White House before the letter was issued allegedly without the knowledge of other board members.
“Will the AG reverse?” asked Rep. Chip Roy (R-RX) in a tweet Friday in reaction to the new NSBA letter.
BREAKING: NSBA apologizes for letter that served as basis for @TheJusticeDept AG #Garland’s directive for FBI to target parents as “domestic terrorists,” including #LoudounScandal outrageously labeling dad of rape victim as poster-boy of domestic terrorism. Will the AG reverse? pic.twitter.com/VkFJxKIfpK
— Chip Roy (@chiproytx) October 23, 2021
Fox News is reporting that an unnamed source familiar with Garland’s approach to the matter is happy with the updated letter because it reflects his statement this week in front of the House Judiciary Committee. The source also said that the attorney general is solely focused on preventing violence, not calling parents domestic terrorists.
Garland spent a great deal of his time in front of the committee on Thursday denying claims that the Department of Justice intended to label parents as domestic terrorists. He asserted that the “Justice Department supports and defends the First Amendment right of parents to complain as vociferously as they wish about the education of their children, about the curriculum taught in the schools.”
“That is not what the memorandum is about at all, nor does it use the words ‘domestic terrorism’ or ‘PATRIOT Act,’” Garland contended.
Many educational groups, state school boards, as well as members of the U.S Commission on Civil Rights have lambasted Garland and the Biden administration for issuing the memo.
Half of the members of the Commission on Civil Rights requested in a letter to Garland “specific examples” of “harassment, intimidation, and threats of violence” that Garland proclaimed were evidence of the need for federal intervention in parent protests at schools.
Many believe the apology is too little, too late:
Last I heard 17 state school board associations have dropped their membership in the NSBA. This means they’ve lost over 1/3 of their funding. Money talks?
Too little, too late. They branded parents “terrorists” for the sin of being involved in their children’s education. 🖕
— carolyn tackett (@CarolsCloset) October 23, 2021
Let’s see if your daughter is sodomized in the school bathroom how you feel. Wake up
— Craig Berkenmeier (@CraigBerkenmei1) October 23, 2021
Well NSBA can shove that bullshit apologize letter where the sun doesn’t shine!
— CS RENO 🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸 (@CinSmith1) October 23, 2021
We will not be denied! pic.twitter.com/bRQNcht5Rg
— The Virginia Project (@ProjectVirginia) October 23, 2021
Several states have already withdrawn from the national group. They need to disband.
— sandra paulley ✝️ 🇺🇸 (@slphouston) October 23, 2021
APOLOGY NOT ACCEPTED
— VK (@vjeannek) October 23, 2021
This smells more like a correction in the NY Times….the first story is the one remembered…..publish the correction weeks later…on the back page.
— R Whisk (@RWhisk1) October 23, 2021
Translation: “We are sorry we got caught playing politics with White House & hope you don’t withdraw your membership from our organization. (We know what’s best for you just as school boards know better than parents what should be taught in schools. P.S.-Vote 4 Terry McA in VA!)”
— me, myself & I (@cnmatthews) October 23, 2021
They say they want to make “specific improvements.” The best improvement they could make is dissolving the organization and finding jobs that actually contribute something worthwhile to society.
— Marcus Ely (@TheMarcusEly) October 23, 2021
Such an embarrassment. Fortunately for me I send my son to a private school and highly encourage others parents to do the same and/or consider home schooling. The public school system has turned into a liberal abyss.
— Donn Geisert (@DonnGeisert) October 23, 2021
DONATE TO BIZPAC REVIEW
Please help us! If you are fed up with letting radical big tech execs, phony fact-checkers, tyrannical liberals and a lying mainstream media have unprecedented power over your news please consider making a donation to BPR to help us fight them. Now is the time. Truth has never been more critical!
- Walmart to shutter stores across nine states, lays off hundreds as economic fears hit hard - March 24, 2023
- Cavuto accuses Trump of lying about DeSantis; Carville claims FL gov scrambling under stinging attacks - March 24, 2023
- Republicans now investigating if Democrats pressured Alvin Bragg into pursuing Trump - March 24, 2023
Comment
We have no tolerance for comments containing violence, racism, profanity, vulgarity, doxing, or discourteous behavior. If a comment is spam, instead of replying to it please click the ∨ icon below and to the right of that comment. Thank you for partnering with us to maintain fruitful conversation.
