Florida GOP: SPLC labeling Moms for Liberty as ‘hate group’ is attempt to ‘demonize’ parents
TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (FLV) – Florida GOP Chairman Christian Ziegler responded after Southern Poverty Law Center added Moms to Liberty to their list of “hate and anti-government groups” Tuesday.
Ziegler said the move is a “gross mischaracterization” and a “blatant attempt to silence and demonize parents who seek to be actively involved in their children’s education.”
Southern Poverty Law Center is a nonprofit “civil rights organization dedicated to fighting hate,” according to their website.
In a new report, the group tracked 1,225 “hate and antigovernment groups” across the U.S.
The list includes groups such as Patriot Front, White Christian Brotherhood of the Ku Klux Klan, American Nazi Party, the Proud Boys, Westboro Baptist Church, Parents Defending Education, Family Research Council, Alliance Defending Freedom, and more.
Moms for Liberty was founded in 2021 by parents and former school board members. Tiffany Justice and Tina Descovich are co-founders of the group.
Justice told Florida’s Voice the move is “absolutely ridiculous.”
“The idea that parents speaking out about their children’s education, you know, wanting to have a voice, seeing what their kids are learning, believe that they should be in the driver’s seat when it comes to all facets of their kids lives – the fact that that would be considered to be ‘hateful,’ or ‘anti government’ is just ridiculous,” Justice said.
According to their website, Moms for Liberty is dedicated to “fighting for the survival of America by unifying, educating and empowering parents to defend their parental rights at all levels of government.”
The group has inspired parents to speak at school board meetings and challenge books they believe are inappropriate for kids.
Florida’s Voice asked Justice what her message is to the SPLC.
“Why do you think fundamental parental rights being defended and protected is such a threat to the future of our country?” Justice asked.
She said American public schools are being used to “radically transform our country.”
“Mom’s for Liberty is disrupting that. We’re disrupting the balance of power in public education and we are reclaiming and reforming American public schools,” Justice said.
“I believe that the Biden administration and others are using the schools to further their end goal, to radically transform our country, and American parents are not okay with that,” Justice explained.
The SPLC report said schools have been on the receiving end of “ramped-up and coordinated hard-right attacks, frequently through the guise of ‘parents’ rights’ groups.”
“They can be spotted at school board meetings across the country wearing shirts and carrying signs that declare, “We do NOT CO-PARENT with the GOVERNMENT.” The group hijacks meetings, preventing officials and parents from conducting their normal proceedings,” the report said.
The report said Moms for Liberty is a Florida-based group with “vast connections to the GOP that this year the SPLC designated as an extremist group.”
It said Moms for Liberty’s activities “make it clear that the group’s primary goals are to fuel right-wing hysteria and to make the world a less comfortable or safe place for certain students – primarily those who are Black, LGBTQ or who come from LGBTQ families.”
“Moms who care about their kids’ education are not a “hate group.” @RonDeSantis stands with @Moms4Liberty and will never back down!” Gov. Ron DeSantis’ Rapid Response Director, Christina Pushaw, said on Twitter.
Moms who care about their kids’ education are not a “hate group.” @RonDeSantis stands with @Moms4Liberty and will never back down! pic.twitter.com/o7EAnpK6lo
— Christina Pushaw 🐊 🇺🇸 (@ChristinaPushaw) June 7, 2023
Moms for Liberty actively worked to take the Parents’ Bill of Rights legislation from Florida’s 2021 legislation session into every state in the country. Currently, there are 13 states that have a version of this legislation up for consideration in 2023.
The group has created a massive grassroots network of parents across the country with 275 chapters across 45 states and more than 115,000 members.
Moms for Liberty is hosting a 2023 Joyful Warriors National Summit June 29 in Philadelphia with guest speakers including the following Republican presidential candidates: former President Donald Trump, DeSantis, Nikki Haley, and Vivek Ramaswamy.
