*sj0007*
SENATE JOINT RESOLUTION 7
F1, E4 2lr1560
By: Senators Ready, Corderman, Eckardt, and Hough
Introduced and read first time: January 28, 2022
Assigned to: Education, Health, and Environmental Affairs
SENATE JOINT RESOLUTION
A Senate Joint Resolution concerning 1
Support of Parents’ Rights to Bring Grievances to County Boards of Education 2
FOR the purpose of supporting parents’ rights to peacefully assemble, speak freely, and 3
petition the government, including county boards of education, on any topic; 4
condemning intimidation of a parent who is expressing these rights; and generally 5
relating to support of parents’ rights to bring grievances to county boards of 6
education. 7
WHEREAS, The First Amendment to the United States Constitution guarantees, in 8
part, “the right of the people to peacefully assemble, and to petition the Government for a 9
redress of grievances”; and 10
WHEREAS, The national grassroots interest being shown by parents is to be 11
commended and encouraged; and 12
WHEREAS, Parents of children in school have the right to peacefully express their 13
opinions about what is being taught in the classroom; and 14
WHEREAS, Violence and threats of violence at county board of education meetings 15
have been isolated and dealt with appropriately by local law enforcement; and 16
WHEREAS, Federal, state, and local governments should not have the ability to 17
stifle protected speech; now, therefore, be it 18
RESOLVED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF MARYLAND, That the General 19
Assembly supports the rights of parents to peacefully assemble, speak freely, and petition 20
the government, including county boards of education, on any topic while strongly 21
condemning intimidation of a parent who is expressing these rights; and be it further 22
RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution be forwarded by the Department of 23
Legislative Services to the Maryland Congressional Delegation; the Honorable Lawrence J. 24
Hogan, Jr., Governor of Maryland; the Honorable William C. Ferguson, IV, President of the 25 2 SENATE JOINT RESOLUTION 7
Senate of Maryland; and the Honorable Adrienne A. Jones, Speaker of the House of 1
Delegates. 2