PolitiFact – At CPAC 2023, Florida congresswoman repeats false claim about DOJ labeling parents ‘terrorists’

House conservatives have been targeting actions by the Justice Department to falsely suggest that the agency is slapping the “terrorist” label on parents who simply raise concerns about school curriculum.

Speaking on March 2 at the Conservative Political Action Conference, U.S. Rep. Kat Cammack, R-Fla., said: “You have the DOJ, the Department of Justice, calling parents that are concerned about what their kids are being taught, they are labeling them terrorists.” 

We rated a similar statement in 2021 that spread on Instagram as False. We have debunked false statements on the topic by multiple politicians, including U.S. Sen. Rick Scott, R-Fla., U.S. Rep. Scott Perry, R-Pa. and U.S. Rep. Steve Chabot, R-Ohio. We have repeatedly found no evidence that parents are labeled terrorists for speaking up about school curriculum concerns.

AG Garland’s memo about school threats led to backlash

In September 2021, following threats against school officials, the National School Boards Association wrote a letter to President Joe Biden requesting assistance to address concerns about school employees’ and board members’ safety. Their concerns were prompted by backlash by some parents about school mask policies or by parents who falsely believed critical race theory was being taught in their schools.

Supporters of teaching critical race theory describe it as a collection of ideas, not a single doctrine, that explain why racial inequality and disparities persist long after civil rights laws and court rulings barred discrimination. Opponents use it as a blanket label for any discussion of white privilege, and they have encouraged local school districts to forbid the teaching of anything that addresses systemic racism.

In October 2021, U.S. Attorney General Merrick Garland sent a memo to the FBI and federal prosecutors acknowledging a “disturbing spike in harassment, intimidation, and threats of violence” against school officials.

Garland directed the FBI to hold meetings across the country and bring together government leaders to discuss strategies to address those threats. The memo focused on criminal conduct, not parents’ views about school curriculum. It did not include the word “terrorist.” Garland acknowledged that people have a right to express their views. 

“While spirited debate about policy matters is protected under our Constitution, that protection does not extend to threats of violence or efforts to intimidate individuals based on their views,” Garland wrote. 

A Trump-nominated judge dismissed a case by parents challenging the memo. The judge concluded that the memo does not target protected conduct under the Constitution and covers only criminal conduct.

Republican claims appear to be linked to an August 2021 bulletin from the National Terrorism Advisory System, which warned of a “current heightened threat environment” in the U.S. 

The bulletin mentioned several factors, including the 20th anniversary of 9/11 and threats from foreign and domestic terrorists.

“These actors are increasingly exploiting online forums to influence and spread violent extremist narratives and promote violent activity,” the bulletin said. “Such threats are also exacerbated by impacts of the ongoing global pandemic, including grievances over public health safety measures and perceived government restrictions.” 

Although the bulletin referred to frustration some people have expressed about pandemic safety restrictions, experts say it did not designate anyone a domestic terrorist.

The federal State and Treasury departments have the authority to designate groups as terrorists; the National Terrorism Advisory System does not.

We contacted Cammack’s spokesperson and did not get an immediate response. It’s possible she was referring to the FBI’s use of “threat tags,” — something that other House Republicans have raised. 

The agency uses such “threat tags” to track information and spot trends. The FBI created the EDUOFFICIALS tag to track threats directed against school officials.

A “threat tag” does not necessarily signal that a full investigation is in progress; such an investigation would occur if there is evidence of potential violence and violation of federal law, an FBI spokesperson previously told PolitiFact. 

Our ruling

Cammack said, “you have the DOJ, the Department of Justice, calling parents that are concerned about what their kids are being taught, they are labeling them terrorists.” 

That’s not accurate. In a 2021 memo, Garland directed the FBI to address criminal threats against school officials. But his memo didn’t use the word “terrorist” and noted that “spirited debate” is protected by the Constitution. 

The FBI created an EDUOFFICIALS “threat tag” to track threats of violence against school officials, not to flag parents for questioning curriculum.

A 2021 bulletin from the National Terrorism Advisory System about the level of threat environment in the U.S. has fueled claims that those who oppose coronavirus safety restrictions were labeled domestic terrorists, but that is not the case.

We rate this statement False. 

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