At stake is the relationship between the people and their government

Fairfax, Va. – Americans for Limited Government President Richard Manning issued the following statement today in reaction to news the Biden administration will use mobilize the Federal Bureau of Investigation against parents who speak out against public school board policies.

“Virginia gubernatorial candidate Terry McAuliffe stated unequivocally that he does not believe parents have a place in their own children’s education at a debate last week.  Now, Biden Attorney General Merrick Garland has declared that parents opposing Critical Race Theory should be treated as terrorists by invoking the Patriot Act over their opposition.

“Historically, all Americans used to agree about the First Amendment to free speech. The First Amendment was created as a protection to our God-given right to be able to disagree with public policies, seek redress from the government, exercise freedom of religion and yes, run a newspaper or blog without government interference.  But McAuliffe  thinks that parents in the Commonwealth of Virginia should just sit down and shut up and accept the indoctrination of their children by those who are fundamentally transforming America.  And now the federal government is seeking to criminalize standing up for your children and the future of our nation by opposing Marxist indoctrination.  The issue is bigger than Critical Race Theory though, it is a question of the relationship between the people and their government.

“Virginia’s Thomas Jefferson defined this relationship in the Declaration of Independence writing, ‘We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.–That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed.’

“Virginia’s James Madison wrote the Constitution and Virginia’s George Mason played a major role in encapsulating this relationship through the first ten amendments to it, which today is known as the Bill of Rights.  The first of these is freedom of speech and religion.  And it is this first right that is at stake by both McAuliffe’s proclamation against parents role in the curricula taught in taxpayer funded schools.  It is this right which Washington, D.C. overlords want to scuttle by invoking a law that was mistakenly passed in response to the terrorist attack on 9/11 against parents who actually care enough about their kid’s education to show up at school board meetings to have their voices heard.

“As we watch Biden’s ongoing assault on commonsense and our basic freedoms, we are reminded that ‘elections have consequences.’  In Virginia you have an election for governor right now.  I am no Glenn Youngkin cheerleader, but his opponent has told Virginia voters what he thinks of them.  He has told Virginia’s parents that they don’t count. If Virginians do not go out right now to cast your ballots against this tyranny that the greatest sons of Virginia risked their lives and fortunes to oppose 245 years ago, then you will get the government you deserve.  One that rules you, rather than you ruling it.

“And as you are voting for the House of Delegates, please reject those who stand with McAuliffe in his dismissal of parent’s right to be heard.  It is a time for choosing, there are no excuses.  The left has bared their teeth and told you exactly who they are.  The only question that remains is will you kneel or will you stand and vote them from power?”

For media availability contact Catherine Mortensen at cmortensen@getliberty.org or 703.478.4643.