Judicial Watch on Monday announced it filed a Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) lawsuit to obtain records about a memorandum from Attorney General Merrick Garland instructing law enforcement to “address the rise in criminal conduct directed toward school personnel” following heated discussions about Critical Race Theory.
The conservative watchdog sought Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) documents related to the memo through an October 2021 FOIA request but the federal agency failed to respond.
The controversial memo, titled “Partnership Among Federal, State, Local, Tribal, and Territorial Law Enforcement to Address Threats Against School Administrators, Board Members, Teachers, and Staff,” stated that there has been a “disturbing spike in harassment, intimidation, and threats of violence against” school employees.
Garland testified that the memo was based on a letter from the National School Board Association that classified parental actions against Critical Race Theory as “domestic terrorism and hate crimes.” The Association later apologized for the letter.