PHILADELPHIA — This week, the Marriott in downtown Philadelphia played host to the 650 members of Moms for Liberty, who have faced numerous challenges recently. First, the Southern Poverty Law Center labeled the organization an anti-government extremist group due to its efforts to ban books and limit discussions on gender and race in classrooms. Then, one of the chapters had to apologize for quoting Adolf Hitler in a newsletter. Despite these setbacks, the group’s second annual Joyful Warriors National Summit was attended by five Republican presidential hopefuls, including former President Donald Trump.
The candidates eagerly catered to this group, as the organizers had invited all presidential candidates, Democrats included, to the event. To Republicans, these women (and the few men present) are seen as potential kingmakers, and the summit was seen as an opportunity to gain the support of the fastest-growing constituency on the right.
Governor Ron DeSantis of Florida, known for his controversial laws that bolster parental rights in education, stated, “Parents in this country should be able to send their kids to school without having an agenda shoved down their throat.” Former South Carolina Governor Nikki Haley, seemingly referencing the Southern Poverty Law Center’s designation, declared, “When they called us a terrorist organization, I said count me a mom for liberty!”
Moms for Liberty, which did not exist three years ago, has become a significant force in school board races across the country. Founded by three Florida moms opposed to mask and vaccine mandates, the organization now has dozens of chapters and a membership of over 115,000. It also operates four PACs, including a federal super PAC. However, fundraising has not been significant in recent filings.
Despite their growing numbers, Moms for Liberty’s influence on the wider electorate remains uncertain. Many of their controversial ideas, such as banning books and restricting transgender rights, have held the Republican party back in previous elections.
The summit faced opposition from the left, with protests outside the venue. However, the group’s allies dismissed this negative attention as liberal smears. Trump, in his keynote address, assured the members that they are not a threat, but the best thing that has happened to America.
Moms for Liberty emerged as the parental rights movement gained momentum, particularly after Glenn Youngkin’s election as governor of Virginia. The pandemic fueled parental fury, with parents concerned about their children’s well-being during quarantine and exposure to explicit material in schools.
Their focus has extended beyond books, as seen in a Pennsylvania school district where M4L-backed school board members banned Pride flags and removed a quote from Holocaust survivor Elie Wiesel. Some believe the organization is going too far in attempting to prevent “indoctrination” around diversity and equity.
According to M4L co-founder Tiffany Justice, the organization does not aim to ban books but rather to curate content in children’s public school libraries. However, the question remains as to why books that are not offensive or harmful cannot simply be left on the shelf.
Moms for Liberty denies any involvement in the controversial “reshelving” of a book based on Amanda Gorman’s poem, “The Hill We Climb.” They claim their mission is about defending parental rights, not banning books.
Overall, despite their growing presence and influence, Moms for Liberty’s tactics and controversial views continue to divide opinions in the political landscape.
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