1. United States
2. Wash.
3. Letter

I am writing to urge you to oppose any legislation that would criminalize or restrict educators from teaching accurate American history, including the difficult chapters involving racism and the displacement of Native Americans. Recent statements by Elon Musk calling for the imprisonment of teachers who educate students about these historical facts represent a dangerous threat to both academic freedom and constitutional rights. Musk stated that teaching about America's treatment of Indigenous peoples should be viewed as treason, with educators imprisoned. This came in response to a 2022 Manhattan Institute survey showing that 45% of high school students had been taught that America was built on stolen land, a statement supported by over 300 years of documented forced migration policies, wars of extermination, and coercive treaties. A 2021 study found that Indigenous people lost approximately 99% of their historically occupied lands. The irony of someone who describes himself as a free speech absolutist calling for imprisonment over speech is not lost on anyone. Treason is a capital offense, and criminalizing educators for teaching documented historical facts would violate the First Amendment while undermining the educational integrity our students deserve. As former NPR correspondent Pam Fessler noted, people who call for the imprisonment of those who teach facts are the ones who truly harm America. This push to ban so-called divisive concepts from classrooms is part of a broader effort to whitewash American history and prevent students from developing critical thinking skills about our nation's past. Students deserve an honest education that includes both our achievements and our failures. Understanding the full scope of American history, including systemic injustices, does not destroy patriotism but rather strengthens our commitment to building a more just society. I urge you to publicly oppose any legislation that would restrict teaching accurate history or threaten educators with criminal penalties for doing their jobs. Our democracy depends on an informed citizenry educated with facts, not propaganda.