Moms For Liberty faces difficulties as "growing pushback" rises over the group's ultra-conservative agenda

During the first Brevard County School Board meeting, Moms For Liberty had one “lone” supporter, and the book ban the group wanted did not pass. This signals a “growing pushback” against the group, CNN reported.

The rise and rise of Moms for Liberty

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The group rose to fame during the Covid 19 emergency. Moms For Liberty then pushed for book bans, championed so-called “Don’t Say Gay or Trans” laws, fought what they believe is “woke indoctrination,” adopted the slogan, “We do not co-parent with the government,” and more.

Failed book ban

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During the Brevard County School Board meeting in Florida on January 23, a “lone” Moms For Liberty supporter faced almost 20 people opposing book banning. The books in question were “The Kite Runner” and “Slaughterhouse-Five,” and no one wanted more bans.

The resistance

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CNN’s report from Florida outlined that one of the mothers, Mindy McKenzie, was a member of Stop Moms For “Liberty.” She asked, “Why are we letting Moms for Liberty infiltrate our school system?”

Stop Moms for “Liberty”

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Liz Mikitarian, a retired teacher and educational advocate, started this movement. On its website, Stop Moms For “Liberty” writes, “We are fighting back against the far-right extremist groups like Moms for Liberty who are pushing for book banning and destroying public education.”

Challenges for Moms For Liberty

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Jack Schneider, a professor of education at the University of Massachusetts Amherst, told CNN, “One of their major challenges is the fact that most Americans are actually pretty positive about their own children’s schools.”

Families do not want “disruption” in schools

Schneider added, “Although their message may have appeal in the abstract, at least to conservative voters, families aren’t clamoring for disruption in their own children’s schools.”

The scandal

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Moms For Liberty faced a drop in popularity following a sex scandal involving the husband of co-founder Bridget Ziegler. Christian Ziegler was ousted from his position as Florida GOP chairman following allegations of abuse. While he was cleared, the investigation revealed the couple was involved in three-way encounters.

At the peak of fame

Last June, during the Philadelphia summit, Moms For Liberty gathered Ron DeSantis, Nikki Haley, and Donald Trump. Trump declared, “In school board races, PTA meetings, and town halls across the nation, you have taught the radical left Marxists and communists a lesson they will never forget: Don’t mess with America’s moms,” adding, “You’re the best thing that’s ever happened to America.”

Still, do not write Moms off yet

Glenn Altschuler, an American studies professor at Cornell University, told CNN, “It seems to me a bit premature, or more than a bit premature, to write it off entirely.” Yet, Altschuler added, “Will it have national prominence that resembles the prominence that it had early on in its founding? I think that’s unlikely.”

“Sowing chaos”

In his email, Schneider said the group was “sowing chaos” because that’s “easier than governing.” Speaking about the group influence, he stated, “It’s one thing to smear teachers or to level outrageous claims about the curriculum. It’s another thing entirely to convince local voters – people who have a stake in the school functioning – that you have the good sense and the practical skills to oversee school district operations.”

Moms for Liberty take Capitol

The group held its third annual legislative rally at the Florida Capitol in early February. According to reports, around 100 rallygoers attended, and group officials discussed the adverse effects of social media and “gender ideology.”

It is still a large group

Moms for Liberty is present in 48 states and has over 130,000 members. Despite its popularity, the Southern Poverty Law Center (SPLC) dubbed the group “extremist” in its 2023 report, describing it as “a far-right organization that engages in anti-student inclusion activities and self-identifies as part of the modern parental rights movement.”

Scandal with the Proud Boys

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After months of allegations, in November 2023, Moms For Liberty removed two Kentucky chapter chairs pictured with Proud Boys members. At least 60 members of the Proud Boys were charged in relation to the January 6 riots. Vice broke the news in June, and it took months for the group to react.

Source: CNN