The California Senate’s bill 596 has stirred up a fierce debate among parental rights advocates as the state continues to push for its passage. The bill, which would make it a criminal offense for “any parent, guardian or other person” to cause “substantial disorder” at any public or charter school board meeting, is yet another example of how the Democratic establishment in Sacramento is suffocating parental rights, free speech and community engagement.
Wenyuan Wu, Executive Director of Californians for Equal Rights Foundation, a parental rights group, told the Daily Caller News Foundation, “Criminalizing contest and dissent in local school districts manufactures false accusations of disorderly conduct when concerned parents exercise their constitutional rights and speak up against woke indoctrination. This bill is shamelessly intended to target, intimidate and smear parents and local community members advocating for better education, transparency and accountability.”
According to Senator Anthony Portantino’s press releases, the bill aims to protect school employees who are facing backlash for teaching about gender identity, sexual orientation and Pride month. Under SB 596, individuals who cause “substantial emotional distress” or “torment” a school employee, such as a school board member, can be fined up to $1,000 or serve no more than one year in jail. However, parental rights advocates warn that the bill could actually end up harming children as it will silence and criminalize parents who are voicing their concern against what their children are being taught.
Mari Barke, California Policy Center’s director of local elected officials, told the DCNF “SB 596 is attempting to silence free speech and could be used against parents very arbitrarily if they question or vocalize concern or opposition to offensive or divisive curricula, content or behavior. We should not be silencing parents, they must be free to express their thoughts and concerns since they are their child’s best advocate. Shutting down dialogue by threatening members of the community with fines and jail time doesn’t benefit students or education as a whole.”
Lenice Sechrist, president of Poway Unified School District Community Watch, noted, “When you see a pattern of policy changes following public comments that bring awareness to district business and union politics, one can be led to believe SB 596 is a flagrant attack on parental rights. If enacted, this bill will surely be used to set ‘examples’ out of parents who speak on issues that concern their children. It appears the strategy is that if First Amendment rights cannot be infringed upon, fear tactics will be used in order to censor parents.”
California is going to pass a bill that makes it a misdemeanor crime for parents to speak out at school board meetings.
It's punishable by a $1,000 fine and up to one year in jail.
Link to the bill is below. pic.twitter.com/sHHqF7WTr0
— Karlyn Borysenko (@DrKarlynB) August 8, 2023
The California Democratic Party’s attempts to deny free speech and parental rights to the citizens of California is alarming and the consequences of their actions will be felt for years to come. It is our duty to protect our parental rights and speak out against any policies or action that seek to stifle our voice. We must not allow our hard-won rights to be stripped away without a fight.