A Justice Department official vowed to protect the free speech of citizen journalists Thursday after Seattle Mayor Katie Wilson accused “extremist influencers” of harassing Somali child care providers in the city.
On the eve of her inauguration, Wilson posted a message expressing “solidarity” with Somali child care providers in the city who have come under scrutiny amid a day care fraud scandal more than 1,000 miles away in Minnesota.
“I stand with the Somali childcare providers who have experienced targeted harassment, and condemn the surveillance campaign promoted by extremist influencers,” the self-proclaimed socialist mayor wrote on X, including a statement warning against filming day care centers.
“In Seattle we believe in solidarity, and our city will not tolerate anyone who is trying to intimidate, harass, or film Somali childcare providers,” Wilson’s statement read. “Such behavior is unacceptable and puts children and families at risk.”
“Family home childcare programs are places of care, safety, and trust,” she continued. “They are privately operated businesses, not public spaces. And they are regulated by the government, not private individuals or groups.”
Wilson’s post caught the eye of Assistant Attorney General Harmeet Dhillon, the head of the DOJ’s civil rights division, who warned the mayor not to infringe on the rights of independent journalists.
“Asking questions/citizen journalism are NOT HATE CRIMES in America — they are protected speech, and if Seattle tries to chill that speech, @CivilRights will step in to protect it and set them straight!” Dhillon wrote on X, in response to Wilson’s post.
“Govern yourselves accordingly!” she added.
Independent journalist Nick Shirley released video footage last month that quickly went viral showing seemingly empty Minnesota day care centers that receive taxpayer funding, suggesting that they are fraudulent enterprises.
In the wake of Shirley’s video, citizen journalists in Seattle have paid visits to childcare centers purportedly run by members of the city’s Somali community and receiving state funds.
The sleuths claim to have found signs that at least some of the day care centers may be defrauding the state.
