Republican Leaders Target Teachers and Schools Amid Student Anti-ICE Protests

"Republican leaders across the country are trying to limit the role teachers play in activism as part of a backlash against students protesting immigration enforcement. Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton on Monday announced an investigation into three school districts for "facilitating and failing to keep students safe and accountable during various student protests." They include Dallas Independent School District, the second-largest in the state. Paxton's office launched an investigation into Austin's school district for similar reasons, requesting documents from the district earlier this month."

"In response to a wave of teacher sick-outs in Tucson, Arizona, that were part of a national immigration protest, GOP lawmakers introduced a bill that would ban teachers from engaging in any kind of organized work stoppage. And in Oklahoma, a group of Republican lawmakers asked the state schools chief to investigate educators accused of facilitating student protests."

"These efforts come as students and teachers have joined a wave of protests and general strikes in response to the Trump administration's immigration policies. In some communities, tens of thousands of demonstrators have filled the streets, while in others, a few dozen students have walked out of school and held signs at nearby intersections."

Republican leaders across multiple states are taking actions aimed at limiting teacher participation in activism connected to student protests over immigration enforcement. Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton opened investigations into several school districts, including Dallas and Austin, for allegedly facilitating protests and failing to keep students safe, and requested related documents. Arizona lawmakers proposed legislation to ban organized teacher work stoppages after teacher sick-outs in Tucson. Oklahoma Republicans asked the state schools chief to investigate educators accused of facilitating student demonstrations. Student and teacher protests have ranged from large street demonstrations to small school walkouts.

Read at Truthout