DOJ Promises to Address ‘Spike’ in Threats Against Educators 

The pledge comes after the National School Boards Association wrote to President Joe Biden last month, comparing threats against school personnel to "domestic terrorism."

In a memo to FBI Director Christopher Wray and federal prosecutors, Attorney General Merrick Garland is taking aim at intimidation and threats of violence directed at educators and school administrators, saying there had been a “disturbing spike” in threats against school personnel and promising to take measures to deal with the issue, reports Newsweek. The move from the Department of Justice follows fraught scenes at school board meetings across the country, with heated exchanges about COVID-19 regulations and Critical Race Theory (CRT).

The DOJ’s decision comes after the National School Boards Association (NSBA) wrote to President Joe Biden on September 29, 2021, comparing threats against school personnel to “domestic terrorism.” “The Department takes these incidents seriously and is committed to using its authority and resources to discourage these threats, identify them when they occur, and prosecute them when appropriate,” Garland’s memo said.  “In the coming days, the Department will announce a series of measures designed to address the rise in criminal conduct directed toward school personnel.”