Sheriff Craig Webre is urging the public to temper rising hostility after a wave of threats and harassment directed at local school and parish officials. According to the Lafourche Parish Sheriff’s Office, recent social media posts regarding an incident at Sixth Ward Middle School have sparked a surge of angry messages and phone calls—some of which may result in criminal charges.
“Let me be clear: threats of violence are not protected speech,” Sheriff Webre said. “We absolutely support everyone’s right to free speech and voicing their opinion on any given topic, but threats of violence and harassment are crimes that are not protected under the First Amendment. There is a clear line between free speech and criminal behavior, and anyone who crosses that line will be held accountable.”
Deputies have responded this week to several reports of harassing calls and messages targeting officials at Sixth Ward Middle School, the Lafourche Parish School District, and members of the Lafourche Parish School Board.
“We’ve seen far too often how extreme rhetoric can escalate into real-world violence,” Webre added. “I urge everyone to take a step back, engage respectfully, and allow for productive dialogue rather than destructive behavior. Our community will grow stronger if we can disagree with civility and respect for one another.”
