In June, Elayne Casalins, a naturalized citizen from the Dominican Republic, addressed the Belmond-Klemme Community School District about the instructional materials that were used in her 12-year-old son's classroom.
"It involved discussions on Black Lives Matter, a PG-13 film shown without parental notice or consent, discussions around racism, [and] a music video that was objectionable," details Cory Brewer, education council at the Wisconsin Institute for Law & Liberty (WILL).
She says Casalins followed the proper procedures set by school board policy and Iowa law.
"She objected and requested reconsideration of the materials, talked to her son's teacher, principal, superintendent, and felt like her concerns were completely dismissed," Brewer relays.
So, Casalins spoke out at a school board meeting.
"Following that, the teacher involved hired her own attorney and threatened our client, Mrs. Casalins, with a defamation lawsuit," reports Brewer. "We really view it as an action that is an attempt to intimidate her and suppress her First Amendment rights."
The "cease-and-desist" letter Mrs. Casalins received instructed her to refrain from any public discussion about this matter of public concern, but WILL stands ready to defend the mom. For starters, it has responded to the teacher's attorney with a letter that states, "Mrs. Casalins will not be intimidated."
Brewer says this case reinforces Casalins' rights as an American parent, and reiterates that parents are legally protected to speak out at school board meetings.
"WILL is representing this mom in Iowa to ensure that her parental and First Amendment rights are fully protected and to prevent intimidation not just for her, but for parents all around the country," she tells AFN.
