"The candidates know that the number one national problem is the attack on parental rights and educational failure in our country." The importance of the words of Tina Descovich, co-founder of Moms For Liberty, was confirmed by the list of attendees at the organization's national conference: Donald Trump, Ron DeSantis, Nikki Haley, Vivek Ramaswamy and Asa Hutchinson.
The Philadelphia event also demonstrated the importance of the organization founded less than three years ago, when two mothers - Descovich and Tiffany Justice - founded Moms For Liberty to defend the rights of parents over their children's education. It currently harvests more than 100,000 members in some forty states across the country.
The conservative enthusiasm generated by the parents' group was met with symmetrical antipathy from the left: it was even declared an "extreme right-wing organization" by the activist Southern Poverty Law Center. Prior to the start of the conference on July 29, employees of the Museum of the American Revolution had demanded that the event's reception be cancelled because it did not align with the organization's values. During the four days of the conference, the museum was surrounded by protesters:
4 days of insults, threats and traffic jams in the streets and traffic outside, 4 days of celebration and friendship with brave mothers inside. Grateful to be on the side of love
4 days of insults, threats, and tying up street businesses and traffic outside, 4 days of celebration and friendship with courageous moms inside. Grateful to side with love @Moms4Liberty @Nicoletta0602 @MegEBrock @BillboardChris @DrJayRichards @ConceptualJames @Rebecca74206570 https://t.co/03oWJzpk8Q pic.twitter.com/RZDSGBXlKn
— Laura Hanford (@ltdn18) July 2, 2023
I went out to greet our protesters and they went crazy.
One man jumped the barricades and was arrested. That's a good 4 minutes of work for me.
I went outside to greet our protestors and they went insane.
One man jumped the barricades and got arrested. That’s a good 4 minutes of work for me. pic.twitter.com/uTMOs29QxU
— Billboard Chris 🇨🇦🇺🇸 (@BillboardChris) July 2, 2023
Candidates, by parents
Ron DeSantis opened the conference hours before his main rival -and leader in the polls- Donald Trump took to the podium. The governor took the opportunity to point out that the group started in Florida and assured that he will take the policies he implemented in his state to the entire country - such as the "let kids be kids" legislative package.
The former president pledged to enforce the Supreme Court's ruling on affirmative action in universities, and promised to eliminate diversity and inclusion programs in the federal government. He also pledged to direct the Department of Justice to take action against educational institutions that discriminate on the basis of race.
The participation of five Republican candidates demonstrates, organizers say, that no matter who wins the election there is one certainty: parental rights will be assured.
