National School Boards Association apologizes for likening parents to 'domestic terrorists' in letter - but AG Garland still plans to set FBI on 'intimidating' mums and dads The National School Boards Association issued an apology on Friday 'On behalf of NSBA, we regret and apologize for the letter,' the NSBA said, noting that 'there was no justification for some of the language included in the letter' A person close to Merrick Garland said he was pleased with NSBA letter because it synced with attorney general's view By Matt Mcnulty For Dailymail.Com Published: 18:49 BST, 23 October 2021 | Updated: 19:17 BST, 23 October 2021 Viewcomments The National School Boards Association issued an apology on Friday after a letter it sent to the Biden administration that likened some parents of school children who have voiced concerns about curriculum as domestic terrorists. '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 wrote in a memo. 'We wanted to write to you directly to address this matter.' Attorney General Merrick Garland was said to be pleased by the letter sent to by the school board Pictured: a copy of the letter sent by the National School Boards Association where it apologizes for 'language' that compared parents of school children to domestic terrorists 'On behalf of NSBA, we regret and apologize for the letter,' the NSBA said, noting that 'there was no justification for some of the language included in the letter.' Someone close to Attorney General Merrick Garland told Fox News that Garland and Department of Justice officials that they are pleased with the updated letter, which is now on course with the statement he made this week in front of House Judiciary. In the letter, the NSBA had claimed that clashes between the school board and parents could amount to domestic terrorism. Garland instructed the FBI to follow up with a task force to address any threats against school officials in a memorandum. The memo also included a concept for a centralized method in which such threats can be reported, according to Fox News. The NSBA sent the letter to President Joe Biden (pictured) on Friday The source close to Garland added the attorney general is solely focused on preventing violence, not calling parents domestic terrorists. Garland denied claims on Thursday that the Department of Justice would label parents as domestic terrorists, saying that the office will defend the parent's First Amendment rights 'to complain as vociferously as they wish.' '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 continued. Meanwhile, on Saturday Senator Josh Hawley (R-Mo) called on Garland to step down following the release of the new NSBA memo. 'Merrick Garland mobilized the FBI to intimidate parents without legal basis and, we now know, premised on misinformation he didn’t bother to verify,' Hawley tweeted in response to the board's memo. 'It was a dangerous abuse of authority that has badly compromised the Justice Dept’s integrity and Garland's.' Share or comment on this article: All rights reserved for this news site (dailymail) and under his responsibility