Public School Teachers Organize Against Tea Party

Is it a crime to use public funds in this manner?

A Minnesota teacher e-mailed the entire school district to organize a counter-protest against the local tea party rally planned for Thursday. The Post-Bulletin reported:

An e-mail sent out by a Rochester public school teacher calling on others to protest the Rochester Tea Party Patriots’ rally on Thursday is drawing sharp criticism from Tea Party members.

The e-mail was sent out to all teachers in the school district and states that “if you are interested in combating the lies and ignorance of the Tea Party movement” to meet for a counter-rally at 5:30 p.m. at Soldiers Field. The teacher who sent out the e-mail says he will have an air horn and some signs. Rochester Tea Party Patriot Chairwoman Cindy Maves contacted School Board Chairman Jim Pittenger to protest the teacher’s use of district e-mail for the political message.

“I am not surprised that there would be a counter-protest. I am just surprised they used the district e-mail,” Maves said.