A representative from the Justice Department has pledged to defend the free speech rights of citizen journalists, following claims made by Seattle Mayor Katie Wilson. Mayor Wilson has accused certain “extremist influencers” of intimidating Somali child care providers in Seattle.

Prior to her inauguration, Mayor Wilson shared a message of “solidarity” with Somali child care providers who are facing increased attention due to a day care fraud issue occurring over 1,000 miles away in Minnesota.

On the social media platform X, the mayor, who identifies as a socialist, expressed support for the child care providers. She criticized what she described as a surveillance campaign by extremists and urged against filming childcare facilities.

Wilson’s statement emphasized Seattle’s values of solidarity, asserting that the city would not stand for any attempts to intimidate, harass, or capture footage of Somali child care providers. She stressed that such actions are unacceptable and potentially endanger families and children.

Highlighting the role of family home childcare programs, she stated, “These are spaces of care, safety, and trust. They operate as private businesses and are governed by state regulations, not by individual or group oversight.”

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.