Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis is standing firmly with parental choice and free speech after the Biden Administration announced that they were mobilizing the FBI to investigate, and possibly label some parents as 'domestic terrorists' for voicing their opposition against mask mandates and the controversial critical race theory that many school districts are "indoctrinating" children with.
"Attorney General Garland is weaponizing the DOJ by using the FBI to pursue concerned parents and silence them through intimidation. Florida will defend the free speech rights of its citizens and will not allow federal agents to squelch dissent," stated Gov. DeSantis.
Gov. DeSantis's remark comes as Attorney General Merrick Garland, who Congressional Republicans blocked his nomination to the U.S. Supreme Court back when President Obama was in office, released a memorandum outlining his Department of Justices' move to use the FBI to go after parents who Garland believes threaten teachers and school boards.
"Threats against public servants are not only illegal, they run counter to our nation's core values," Garland stated in his memorandum released Monday. "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."
"In recent months, 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," Garland continued. "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."
Using the FBI to look into vocal parents is being perceived as an egregious effort to intimidate parents from attending school board meetings to voice their opposition.
But 2022 gubernatorial candidates and Florida Agriculture Commissioner Nikki Fried, believes that Garland is only calling on the FBI to investigate parents as a way of protecting those same parents, children, and teachers from any potential harm.
Fried also went as far as to say that DeSantis was embarrassing Floridians by pushing parental choice in schools.
"Attorney General Garland is using law and order (FBI) to protect children, parents, and teachers from crime. Florida will continue to be embarrassed by Governor DeSantis and his contempt for the law and the safety of our children," tweeted Commissioner Fried.
DeSantis has said that critical race theory teaches children to believe "America is a rotten place." While the Biden administration asserts that CRT is not taught in K-19 schools, that argument has already been debunked.
The Broward County School District in Florida is openly pushing CRT education on their website. They are not hiding it.,
Attorney General Garland is weaponizing the DOJ by using the FBI to pursue concerned parents and silence them through intimidation.
Florida will defend the free speech rights of its citizens and will not allow federal agents to squelch dissent.
— Ron DeSantis (@GovRonDeSantis) October 5, 2021
