PRESS RELEASE
DATE: October 18, 2021
TO: U.S. Attorney General Merrick Garland
U.S. Department of Justice
950 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW
Washington, DC 20530-0001
FROM: Sheriff Bob Songer
Klickitat County Sheriff’s Office
205 South Columbus Avenue, Room 108
Goldendale, WA. 98620-9291
SUBJECT: Justice Department to Target Parents Who Threaten School Staff
I want to inform you, as the Elected Sheriff of Klickitat County, Washington, I will not be cooperating with the F.B.I. to target parents at School Board Meetings.
Parents have a Constitutional Right under the First Amendment to free speech and assembly at School Board Meetings.
In my opinion Parents have a Constitutional Right to question the School Board members during the School Board Meeting about what their children are being taught in school.
Parents have a right to voice their objections to School Board Members in regards to mask mandates and to what their child is being taught. Parents have every right to voice their objections to having their children being taught Critical Race Theory Curriculum and Gender Identity Curriculum.
My deputies and I will not be cooperating with the F.B.I. or any other federal agency in targeting parents as domestic terrorist groups at school board meetings.
The F.B.I. or any other Federal Agency needs to stay out of our County. The Sheriff’s Office will investigate any parent who is reported as making threats of bodily harm to school board members, teachers or school staff. However, this also includes school board members, teachers or school staff making threats of bodily harm to any parent. If our investigation shows an individual has made threats of bodily harm, we will file criminal charges against the individual under Washington State law.
A parent telling the school board members to resign or that they are going to recall them is not a crime under Washington State Law.
Sincerely
Bob Songer, Sheriff
Klickitat County, Washington
CC:
Sheriff Tom Jones, Grant County
Sheriff Robert Udell, Yakima County
Sheriff Dave Brown, Skamania County
Sergeant Nate Hovinghoff, Washington State Police
Chief Jay Hunziker, Goldendale Police Department
Chief Mike Hepner, Bingen White Salmon Police Department
F.B.I. Agent in Charge, Yakima Office
U.S. Attorney Joseph H. Harrington, Eastern District of Washington
Klickitat County Board of County Commissioners
David Quesnel, Klickitat County Prosecuting Attorney
Governor Jay Inslee, State of Washington
Attorney General Bob Ferguson, State of Washington
Klickitat County Sheriff’s Office Employees
Sheriff Richard Mack, Constitutional Sheriff’s and Peace Officers Association
Media: Goldendale Sentinel, White Salmon Enterprise, Gorge Radio Stations