Trump and DeSantis, Prospective 2024 GOP Contenders, to Join Moms for Liberty Conference

Former President Donald Trump and Florida Governor Ron DeSantis, the primary potential candidates for the Republican presidential nomination, will take the podium at the annual Moms for Liberty event this Friday. This group, formed just two years ago, has vehemently challenged education related to race and gender identity in American classrooms.

Gaining considerable traction in conservative political circles, the group champions “parental rights” in education. However, an anti-hate watchdog has branded it as “extremist”, accusing it of harassing community members, propagating anti-LGBTQ+ misinformation, and striving to erase diverse and inclusive content from curriculums.

Other key speakers at the Friday event, hosted at a central Philadelphia hotel, include former U.N. Ambassador Nikki Haley and Florida First Lady, Casey DeSantis. The agenda for Saturday features speeches by former Arkansas Governor Asa Hutchinson and biotech entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy.

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In its brief existence, Moms for Liberty has formed influential alliances with key GOP entities, politicians, and benefactors, becoming a prominent force leading up to the 2024 elections.

The group’s growth, from three Florida mothers opposing COVID-19 restrictions in 2021 to now boasting 285 chapters in 45 states, is noteworthy. Along its journey, it has cultivated a strong bond with DeSantis, who has signed multiple bills backed by the group.

In addition to speeches from the prospective candidates and other figures, the conference will present strategy discussions on topics such as “shielding children from gender ideology” and “comprehensive sex education: informative or sexualizing?”

In response to the event, parent activists and LGBTQ+ advocacy groups have announced plans to protest outside the conference, spurred on by the Southern Poverty Law Center’s classification of Moms for Liberty as an “anti-government extremist” entity.

Recent controversies include an Indiana chapter of the group sharing an Adolf Hitler quote in its newsletter before issuing an apology and retraction, and a Tennessee chapter expressing discontent with lessons on Black civil rights leaders like Martin Luther King Jr. and Ruby Bridges.

A planned welcome event for the conference at Philadelphia’s Museum of the American Revolution faced opposition from numerous history associations, state senators, activists, and museum employees, who all failed to persuade the museum to cancel the gathering.

In defense of the event, the museum expressed that rejecting visitors based on their ideology would conflict with its mission to foster understanding within a democratic society.

Protest rallies against the meeting are planned for downtown Philadelphia on Friday, including a mobilization from the “Grandparents for Truth” campaign by People for the American Way.

In response to the protests, Moms for Liberty co-founder Tiffany Justice stated that the protestors “obviously don’t know very much about our organization” and suggested they could have attended the summit instead of protesting.

Despite Moms for Liberty’s claim of nonpartisanship, it has predominantly garnered conservative support and worked towards electing conservative candidates to school boards nationwide.

Although as a 501(c)4 nonprofit, the group is not required to reveal its funding sources, its known benefactors include conservative stalwarts such as the Heritage Foundation and the Leadership Institute.

A noteworthy sponsorship comes from Patriot Mobile, a right-leaning Christian cellphone company that is underwriting Trump’s speech at the conference. The company’s PAC has made substantial investments towards controlling Texas school boards.

Robert F. Kennedy Jr., an anti-vaccine advocate and Democratic presidential primary candidate, was initially scheduled to speak at the summit. However, after becoming aware of Moms for Liberty’s stance on LGBTQ+ issues, he withdrew his participation.

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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) about Moms for Liberty conference

More about Moms for Liberty conference

• Moms for Liberty official website
• Southern Poverty Law Center
• The Heritage Foundation
• The Leadership Institute
• People for the American Way
• Robert F. Kennedy Jr. official website
• Museum of the American Revolution
• Philadelphia’s protests