1. United States
2. Okla.
3. Letter

I am writing as a constituent, a veteran, and a mother to express serious concern regarding calls to investigate or punish educators in connection with recent student walkouts protesting ICE activity. The First Amendment protects the right to free speech and peaceful assembly — including for students. The U.S. Supreme Court made this clear in Tinker v. Des Moines (1969), stating that students do not “shed their constitutional rights to freedom of speech or expression at the schoolhouse gate.” Peaceful student walkouts are a long-standing form of civic expression in this country. Whether one agrees with the message or not, the right to speak out, assemble, and petition the government is foundational to American democracy. Punishing educators without clear evidence of misconduct risks chilling civic engagement and discouraging students from learning how to participate responsibly in our republic. As a parent, I want my children to understand how government works. I want them to learn to think critically, to advocate respectfully, and to exercise their rights lawfully. Investigations driven by political disagreement rather than genuine safety concerns undermine that lesson. If safety protocols were followed and students engaged peacefully, then the focus should be on protecting constitutional rights — not suppressing them. I respectfully ask that you: 1. Defend students’ First Amendment rights. 2. Ensure that any investigation is grounded in facts and due process, not political retaliation. 3. Publicly affirm that civic engagement — even when controversial — is not grounds for punishment. We cannot teach our children about liberty while disciplining them for exercising it. I look forward to your response.