Parson criticizes federal intervention in school board meetings

Missouri Governor Mike Parson is joining other Republicans across the country in condemning an initiative for federal intervention in local school board meetings.

“Missouri parents have every right to know what is being taught to their children and voice their opinions on the subject,” said Parson. “We strongly oppose any effort by the Biden Administration to use the DOJ or FBI to limit parental dissent in our schools.”

This discussion comes after Attorney General Merrick Garland issued a memo to DOJ employees earlier this week discussing efforts to combat violence, threats and “efforts to intimidate individuals based on their views” related to state and local school boards and officials.

“In Missouri, we already have strict laws that hold those accountable who harass or threaten violence against school administrators, board members, teachers, and staff,” added Parson. “Local law enforcement is more than capable of handling these situations.”

Citing an increase in harassment, intimidation and threats of violence against school board members, teachers and workers in our nation’s public schools, Garland directed the FBI and U.S. Attorneys’ Offices to meet in the next 30 days with federal, state, Tribal, territorial and local law enforcement leaders to discuss strategies for addressing this disturbing trend.

These sessions will open dedicated lines of communication for threat reporting, assessment and response by law enforcement.

But Parson still criticized the idea claiming “this action by the Biden Administration jeopardizes local control and sets a dangerous precedent against those who simply disagree. President Biden cannot be allowed to criminalize Missouri parents who want to access their elected school boards.”

The Justice Department will also create specialized training and guidance for local school boards and school administrators. This training will help school board members and other potential victims understand the type of behavior that constitutes threats, how to report threatening conduct to the appropriate law enforcement agencies, and how to capture and preserve evidence of threatening conduct to aid in the investigation and prosecution of these crimes.

“Amazingly, he wants to use federal resources to go after concerned parents but refuses to prevent criminal aliens from illegally entering the United States,” concluded Parson.