American Federation of Teachers President Randi Weingarten claims that legislation like Florida’s Parental Rights in Education Act is “the way in which wars start.”

During a recent appearance on “The Rick Smith Show,” Weingarten said that parents concerned about gender identity and sexual orientation being taught in public schools are being manipulated by special interest groups seeking to dismantle public education and privatize the U.S. education system.

“We are in an existential threat race against these right-wing extremists who are trying to exploit people’s agitation for their own political purposes,” she said. “That’s why they are trying to silence and put back into the closet people who may be gay or trans.”