Senate Republican leader Mitch McConnell is demanding answers from Attorney General Merrick Garland on Friday over his recent Justice Department memo directing FBI and other law enforcement to immediately address a 'disturbing spike' in violent incidents against teachers and other education officials.
The Kentucky lawmaker wrote a letter to Garland disputing his 'ominous rhetoric' over the conflicts between teachers and parents.
Schoolboard meetings and other educational settings have become a hotbed for protest for angry parents opposing masks in the classroom and the teachings of Critical Race Theory in public schools.
In his letter, a copy of which was obtained by DailyMail.com, McConnell asserted parents have the right to exercise control over their child's education.
'Parents absolutely should be telling their local schools what to teach. This is the very basis of representative government,' McConnell wrote. 'They do this both in elections and - as protected by the First Amendment of the Constitution - while petitioning their government for redress of grievance.'
'Telling elected officials they're wrong is democracy, not intimidation.'
Mitch McConnell sent Merrick Garland a letter on Friday morning demanding he explain how and why he's planning on cracking down on parents protesting masks and Critical Race Theory
On Friday morning a local Pennsylvania outlet reported on a growing number of incidents of 'aggressive behavior' and 'derogatory remarks' at board meetings in the Northampton County School District and other parts of the Lehigh Valley since officials implemented mask mandates.
In Texas, a speaking event featuring a popular YA graphic novels author was canceled this week and his books pulled from school library shelves after a group of 400 parents accused writer Jerry Craft of promoting Critical Race Theory through his work, the Houston Chronicle reported.
McConnell said the impassioned demonstrations across the country should be praised, not condemned.
'I hope you will agree with me that the kind of grassroots interest parents have shown throughout the country in both the methods and substance of their children's education is to be commended and encouraged,' the senator wrote.
He noted that while 'some schoolboard meetings have involved altercations with the police,' those incidents were 'dealt with effectively.'
Garland issued a memo earlier this week warning parents that they could be prosecuted for violence or threats of violence against education officials
'Violence, threats of violence, and other criminal behavior are always wrong.'
McConnell then pivoted to raising concerns over threats of violence experienced by the anti-CRT parents that Garland's memo targets.
Using the example of Loudon County, Virginia - pointing out it's in Garland's own 'backyard' - McConnell described 'shocking efforts' by public officials to intimidate parents who he claimed merely 'want a better education for their children.'
One Loudon County schoolboard member, he noted, went so far as to join a Facebook group 'that compiled a list of parents opposed to Critical Race Theory and discussed hacking their websites.'
