As the 2024 elections approach, the field of candidates has seized on issues promoted by extremist hate groups. Several contenders for the presidential nomination recently appeared at the Moms for Liberty conference, such as Donald Trump, Ron DeSantis, Nikki Haley, and Vivek Ramaswamy. While the media attention focused on the big-name speakers, the information presented in the conference was dangerous, unsettling, and riddled with conspiracy theories. The conference included a session that suggested our public education leaders are trying to destroy the Constitution - as well as America. They also emphasized that schools are benefitting from funding provided by taxpayers, and that the schools just give the excess money to their friends. Along with promoting conspiracy theories, the speakers gave actionable advice on how to make problematic changes in a school district. The advice included suggestions on passing controversial policies by bombarding the school district with an assortment of requests and demands. The rationale was that by putting an unreasonable amount of pressure on the district, officials wouldn’t be able to counter everything. The speakers recommended prioritizing attacks on critical race theory and on diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives. The event included Tiffany Justice, co-founder of Moms for Liberty, saying that “one of our moms in a newsletter quotes Hitler. I stand with that mom.” The crowd loudly applauded this statement.    

 

Not only is this type of rhetoric preposterous, it's incredibly dangerous. The high-ranking political officials who attended this event are normalizing egregious behavior by spreading falsehoods and conspiracy theories. It’s hard to fathom that the previous president of the United States was at an event suggesting that our public schools are an effort to “destroy America” and applauding a Hitler quote. And it certainly doesn’t represent the future that the majority of Americans want.   

 

While speakers like Gov. DeSantis proudly attended the summit, many recent claims by Moms for Liberty have leaned even more extreme than the candidates they promote. In response to President Biden’s mental health strategies, Moms for Liberty recently tweeted, “Mental health care is health care, Mr. President. That’s why it has no place in schools.” Just last year, Gov. DeSantis signed legislation requiring that school districts certify that at least 80% of school personnel have received youth mental health awareness training.  Although Moms for Liberty has made plenty of extreme claims, the notion that student health should not be addressed in a school setting is downright shocking. Currently, 4.65 million children are uninsured and schools are an important asset in ensuring the health and well-being of students. Whether it’s intervening in a crisis, bandaging a wound, or administering medication for an allergic reaction, school-based health care keeps students safe and removing it from schools puts them in danger.  

 

What’s clear is that the groups shouting the loudest represent the fewest.

Indiana: In Indiana, educators successfully fought a bill to ban the instruction of topics discussing race and ethnicity. If passed, the bill would have prohibited “the use of supplemental learning materials to promote certain concepts regarding sex, race, ethnicity, religion, color, or national origin.” Hundreds of educators lined up outside the state house waiting to testify in opposition to the legislation. Allison Hayley, a high school teacher who mobilized hundreds of teachers to protest the proposed legislation, explains that they “fought like hell” and that they “knew it was coming and moved quickly.”   
  
New Hampshire: In New Hampshire, a progressive teacher won a school board election with record turnout on a platform to fight book bans. Elementary school teacher Andrea Campbell was alarmed by the book bans she read about in the newspaper. Her concern over free speech and the ability of children to learn an accurate depiction of history caused her to run for school board. Although the district is a conservative stronghold, Campbell won the election as a first-time candidate.  

 

The Trevor Project is dedicated to suicide prevention for LGBTQ+ youth and provides free 24/7 confidential crisis counselors. The Trevor Project offers a guide for testifying against harmful bills. While a record number of anti-LGBTQ+ bills were considered across the country in 2022, 90% of harmful bills were defeated, proving the importance of advocacy on this critical issue. The organization also offers resources on navigating personal safety while taking action as an LGBTQ+ young person.   

  

The American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) works to defend and preserve the individual rights and liberties guaranteed by the Constitution. The ACLU is fighting censorship in schools and communities. The organization has developed a toolkit that includes talking points on issues including critical race theory and book bans. Information is also available on organizing in your community and direct candidate engagement.   

 

Moms for Liberty says no to mental health care in schools, but it's Florida law, Yahoo News | August 3rd 2023  

 

Six Reasons Why Moms for Liberty is an extremist organization, The Hill | July 9th, 2023 

 
Inside Moms for Liberty’s summit: Big money and even bigger conspiracy theories, Media Matters for America | July 7th, 2023   

 

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