Back in 2021, the National School Boards Association sent a letter to Washington, D.C., asking for federal help to deal with frustrated parents at school board meetings.
Instead of listening to parents, the Biden administration’s Department of Justice treated them like criminals.
Then-Attorney General Merrick Garland even directed the FBI to investigate parents who spoke out, labeling some of them as possible “domestic terrorists.”
Parents of school-aged children should NEVER be treated like criminals for speaking at school board meetings.
No more. @TheJusticeDept is restoring law & order and returning power to the PEOPLE we serve.
I am directing @FBI, our @CivilRights division, and all our U.S.… pic.twitter.com/KTRtEQrYFY
— Attorney General Pamela Bondi (@AGPamBondi) September 10, 2025
That move stunned millions of moms and dads across the country, including right here in Nevada.
Parents who simply wanted answers about curriculum, school safety, or controversial policies were suddenly treated as threats.
The Loudoun County Flashpoint
The debate exploded after the Loudoun County, Virginia, school board tried to cover up a sexual assault in a school bathroom.
When parents showed up demanding answers, some were arrested. That story traveled fast, and it became a rallying cry for parents everywhere who felt their voices were being silenced.
Nevada parents saw the same playbook being used here when school boards limited public comment and brushed aside concerns over gender policies and test scores.
Bondi’s Memo: A Clear Reversal
Now, Attorney General Pam Bondi has issued a new directive that wipes out Garland’s 2021 memo. Instead of threatening parents, the DOJ will protect their rights.
The shift lines up with President Trump’s push to put families first in education. Just last weekend, the Religious Liberty Commission hosted a major event on education issues, making clear that this administration sees parental rights as non-negotiable.
Bondi’s action sends a powerful message: the federal government will no longer be used as a weapon against everyday citizens.
Instead, Washington is stepping back and making sure school boards respect the First Amendment.
Dhillon Takes Charge of Civil Rights Division
The change also comes as Harmeet Dhillon, a respected constitutional attorney, takes over as Assistant Attorney General for Civil Rights.
Dhillon has already moved the division’s focus toward protecting Americans from government bias. According to The Washington Post (Sept. 9, 2025), that includes making sure parents aren’t punished for speaking up about their kids’ education.
Nevada families know Dhillon well. She has represented parents and organizations in the West who have fought against overreach from both state and federal agencies.
Her appointment shows the Trump administration is serious about re-balancing the scales.
Free Speech and the Classroom
The First Amendment has long played a role in schools.
Back in 1969, the Supreme Court ruled in Tinker v. Des Moines that students don’t lose their free speech rights just because they step onto school property. Unless speech causes major disruption, it’s protected.
That same principle is now being applied to parents. If students have rights inside the classroom, surely parents should have rights in the boardroom.
Parents Fighting Back
Stories like that of Beth Bourne in Davis, California, show why this matters.
In 2023, her local school board tried to slap her with a restraining order because she criticized what she called “gender indoctrination.” A judge threw it out – and made it obvious that some officials would rather silence parents than debate them.
Bondi’s memo is designed to stop that kind of abuse.
Here in Nevada, groups like Power2Parent and the Nevada Family Alliance have fought for years to keep school boards accountable.
Whether it’s battles over critical race theory, gender policies, or even basic math and reading scores, parents have been demanding a seat at the table.
Now, with support from Washington, their voices are harder to ignore.
Critics Push Back
Critics on the left say this shift will make school officials less safe. They argue that heated rhetoric at meetings can cross the line.
But the reality is that threatening behavior is already against the law. What Garland’s DOJ did was paint with a broad brush, targeting anyone who simply raised their voice.
Bondi’s approach restores balance without excusing actual criminal behavior.
Nevada Families Get a Win
The Clark County School District has seen its share of fiery board meetings, with parents shut down by the very people paid to represent them.
Bondi’s directive gives them new confidence that they can speak up without fear of being treated like criminals.
By reversing Garland’s memo, the Trump administration is making it clear: moms and dads are not the enemy – and their voices matter now more than ever.
The opinions expressed by contributors are their own and do not necessarily represent the views of Nevada News & Views. This article was written with the assistance of AI. Please verify information and consult additional sources as needed.
