Source: New Yorker
Over the past few years, and throughout this year, in particular, leading up to the midterm election, public education has been under attack by right-wing groups and politicians, all under the guise of fighting Critical Race Theory. While several teachers and school districts across the country have disputed claims that CRT is being taught in public schools, Republican-backed groups continue to harass teachers, school administrators, and local school boards.
One of the most prolific of these groups is Moms for Liberty, according to The New Yorker. Often claiming to be defending children from “woke indoctrination,” the group labels standard parts of history lessons “Critical Race Theory” for discussing segregation and slavery and claims that the lessons are divisive among students because it might make some students feel bad.
In addition to targeting discussions of race and history, Moms for Liberty has also demonized discussions of gender and sexual orientation in schools, and have even called teachers and school board members “groomers.”
Leaders of Moms for Liberty have direct ties to the GOP. Marie Rogerson was a Republican political strategist and Bridget Ziegler, a school board member in Sarasota County, Florida, is married to the vice chair of the Florida GOP, Christian Ziegler, who told the Washington Post, “I have been trying for a dozen years to get 20 and 30-year-old females involved with the Republican Party, and it was a heavy lift to get that demographic… But now Moms for Liberty has done it for me.”
The group also worked with Florida’s governor, Ron DeSantis, in crafting the infamous “Don’t Say Gay” legislation that forbids discussion of sexual orientation and gender in Florida public schools.
Moms for Liberty continues to expand its reach. The organization now has over 200 chapters across 42 states and more than 100,000 members. During this year’s midterm elections, Moms for Liberty played heavily in school board races across the country, including North Carolina. Several Republican candidates for local school boards were endorsed by Moms for Liberty.
