Virginia Dems mandate Jan. 6 be taught as ‘violent insurrection,’ ban election fraud claims in schools
Virginia lawmakers passed a bill Wednesday that requires public schools to describe the Jan. 6, 2021, Capitol riot as a violent attack and specifically prohibits teachers from framing it as...
By Fox News · Fox News
Virginia lawmakers passed a bill Wednesday that requires public schools to describe the Jan. 6, 2021, Capitol riot as a violent attack and specifically prohibits teachers from framing it as a peaceful protest. Virginia Democrats have quickly advanced a slew of controversial legislation since Gov. Abigail Spanberger was elected in November and their ranks ballooned in the state House, including a bid to redraw every Republican congressman except Rep. Morgan Griffith out of their seats to make the Democratic majority 10-1 in the state's congressional delegation. Now, they are taking steps to shape how the history of Jan. 6 is taught to children. HB 333, crafted by Del. Dan I. Helmer of Fairfax, bars public school programs from describing the Jan. 6, 2021, Capitol riot as a peaceful protest or presenting claims that widespread election fraud altered the 2020 presidential results as credible. The bill specifically "prohibits" instruction that portrays the insurrection as peaceful or suggests there was "extensive election fraud" that could have changed the election outcome. However, it does not lay out any explicit criminal penalties for violations. VIRGINIA DEMOCRAT GIVES PROFANITY-LACED RESPONSE TO CRUZ'S CRITICISM OF THE STATE'S REDISTRICTING PUSH In a statement to the Virginia Mercury on the bill, Helmer said there is "real concern" that President Donald Trump is "trying to rewrite the history of January 6; borne out by the fact there is a WhiteHouse.gov site that presents a false history." Fox News Digital reached out to Virginia Republicans for comment. The Virginia Assembly of Independent Baptists also came out against the bill, with executive director Michael Huffman testifying before a state Senate committee that the true education equips children for life, not political agendas, and glorifying or mandating … the dark day serves only short-sighted partisanship, not our kids’ future," according to Hampton Roads’ PBS affiliate . Helmer, an Iraq War veteran and st…