Experience the convenience of listening to Fox News articles! The Moms for Liberty conference held in Philadelphia last weekend exuded an unexpected atmosphere of joyfulness, which is quite intriguing considering that the organization was initially fueled by anger and outrage towards our education system in 2021. This paradox not only reveals how the group rapidly became the grassroots foundation of the conservative movement, but also explains their compelling message.
The conference, set in an elegant hotel spanning two floors, witnessed a vibrant display of bright floral dresses accompanied by warm hugs and laughter as attendees connected and bonded. Many participants were thrilled to finally meet their social media friends in person, a modern phenomenon of our time.
The affair had an air of secrecy surrounding it, with the media mostly restricted from the breakout sessions where strategic discussions took place. However, can we really blame them for this precautionary measure? The news media has repeatedly twisted the words of Moms for Liberty, distorting their message into unrecognizable knots of hatred. It’s only natural for the group to be cautious about inviting more of this biased coverage.
For instance, earlier this month, a local chapter in Florida used a quote from Adolf Hitler in a disapproving manner to highlight the dangers of government indoctrination of children. The left and their media allies jumped at the opportunity to make a bizarre and baseless claim that Moms for Liberty supports Hitler’s ideology. This interpretation is either insane or maliciously driven by political agendas. When confronted with the backlash, the chair of the Florida chapter simply replied with a smile, shaking her head, and dismissing their lies.
This incident encapsulates the core issue at hand. Much of the left has decided to shut down certain conversations related to identity, even when these conversations are crucial to public policy. Reasonable positions, such as protecting young children from exposure to sexually explicit images, are deemed off-limits. This leaves frustrated and angry parents feeling powerless to advocate for their children’s education. However, Moms for Liberty refuses to accept this suppression. They refuse to believe that expressing concerns for their children constitutes hatred.
Moms for Liberty has rapidly gained momentum across the country, boasting 285 chapters in 44 states and over 120,000 members. Their mission is to unify, educate, and empower parents to defend their parental rights at all levels of government.
The organization was founded by Tina Descovitch, Tiffany Justice, and Bridget Zeigler as a response to the lockdown measures implemented during the COVID-19 pandemic. However, their fight expanded to include challenging curriculums in public schools that promote critical race theory and gender ideology. This unexpected development occurred as in-person education was abruptly disrupted, exposing parents to far-left cultural messages through virtual platforms. Many attendees at the conference highlighted this phenomenon as a catalyst for their involvement.
I spoke to a woman who had been a teacher for decades but ultimately resigned when she realized that fighting from within the system was futile. She found herself unable to fulfill her responsibilities due to the restrictive rules imposed by her school district. Her experience reflects a prevailing sentiment that change must come from the top or at least from the middle management of the education system.
Numerous parents I spoke with had run for their local school boards in states like Florida, Pennsylvania, and Indiana, among others. When asked about the operations of their Moms for Liberty chapters, one woman mentioned that they mainly focused on organizing around local elections, as that is where meaningful change happens.
Interestingly, despite the presence of major GOP figures like Donald Trump, Ron DeSantis, Vivek Ramaswamy, and Nikki Haley at the conference, there was little discussion about the 2024 nomination. The general sentiment among participants seemed to be that they held positive views of all the candidates. In fact, what stood out was that the candidates themselves were more interested in Moms for Liberty than vice versa. This speaks to the incredible political power that the organization has amassed in a short period of time.
As is typical of such conferences, the most talkative and friendly individuals could be found in the small smoking area to the left of the Downtown Marriott entrance. It was here, amidst the noise and colorful protests, that I posed a question to dozens of attendees: “When these protesters label you as a Nazi, White supremacist, or fascist, does it hurt? Does it emotionally impact you, especially since this is happening face-to-face rather than on Twitter?” While many remained stoic, dismissing such insults as water off a duck’s back or considering them a badge of honor, some admitted that it was hurtful, particularly initially. Being subjected to vile rhetoric naturally takes its toll.
And why wouldn’t it? Why should an onslaught of slurs from the left towards the right be any less emotionally harmful than the other way around? Of course, it hurts. However, as one woman shared with me, she knows she is none of those things, and she chooses to pray for the protesters.
Speaking of the protesters, they mostly fit the archetype of political activists who attempt to shut down any coverage of their message. Even when a willing interviewee is found, they are swiftly obstructed by black bloc Antifa types who interfere with cameras.
Occasionally, I managed to engage with a protester, but their reasons for protesting were incoherent, regurgitated lies and exaggerations taken from mainstream media narratives. Claims such as “They are an official hate group!” or “They hate gay and trans people!” or “They are banning books!” were thrown around without any substantiation. When pressed about which books they believed Moms for Liberty opposed sharing with young children, they responded with blank stares.
This lack of clarity was evident in an older man I spoke to. His sign labeled Moms for Liberty as fascists, but when asked why, he deferred to his absent wife, claiming she knew more about it since she worked as a librarian. When pressed further, he had no substantial response. This mentality seemed to permeate the mainstream media’s coverage of the conference as well. Journalists picked up their media credentials with suspicion, fully prepared to expose a group of bigots. However, as they engaged in genuine conversations with the moms, their preconceptions began to crumble. The anger and hatred they expected to find were simply not present.
Even progressive outlets like Media Matters went as far as sending an undercover reporter to the conference, only to discover that instead of uncovering a dark underbelly of hate, the reporter spent most of the exposé discussing the food at the event. This unexpected outcome highlights the stark contrast between the distorted narratives perpetuated by certain media outlets and the reality of Moms for Liberty.
By taking the time to engage with these moms and truly understand their perspective, the journalists discovered that they didn’t have much negative to say. Overcoming the initial skepticism, they realized that the Southern Poverty Law Center’s fabricated stories and angry school board meeting clips didn’t hold up against the genuine experiences and aspirations of the moms they encountered.
Ultimately, the Moms for Liberty conference was a testament to the power of grassroots movements and the determination of parents to protect their children’s rights and education. It showcased the resilience and unity of a group that refuses to be silenced and dismissed. As the voices of Moms for Liberty continue to grow, their impact on public policy and education will undoubtedly be felt.
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