FL-Based Moms For Liberty Labeled Extremist Group In Hate Report

MELBOURNE, FL — Moms For Liberty, a Florida-based group whose members opposed mask mandates during the COVID-19 pandemic and have spoken out on the teaching race and LGBTQ+ issues in schools, has been labeled an "anti-government, extremist group" by the Southern Poverty Law Center in the watchdog organization's newest report.

Listed alongside far-right groups like the Oath Keepers, Proud Boys, and Patriot Front, this is the first year Moms For Liberty has been included in the SPLC's Year in Hate & Extremism, an annual report detailing the scope of hate and anti-government extremist groups operating within the United States.

It was one of 12 "anti-student inclusion groups" identified in the report, alongside groups such as Moms for America and Parents Defending Education.

According to the SPLC report, Moms For Liberty has made its way by intimidating and harassing teachers and school officials, battling teachers' unions, and attacking corporations supporting LGBTQ+ rights.

Members have also supported and championed laws like Florida's Parental Rights in Education law — called the "Don't Say Gay" bill by critics — which prohibits discussing gender and sexual identity in Florida schools.

"These groups denigrate lessons on diversity and inclusion," the SPLC said in the report. "They spew homophobic and transphobic speech in the name of protecting their children's innocence, disregarding and disrespecting children in the LGBTQ community."

The report continued, "(These groups) ban reading materials that they deem inappropriate, which almost always happens to be LGBTQ or non-white in subject matter. They embrace racist and nationalist ideology, claiming to want the teaching of America's accurate history in the schools but label the true, harsh history of the country as unpatriotic and unsuitable for children."

Here are five things to know about Moms For Liberty:

The group was founded in Florida.

Moms For Liberty was founded in Melbourne, a city located in Brevard County, in January 2021. The organization now claims to have more than 115,000 members and 280 chapters in almost every state, including 32 of Florida's 67 counties.

The group's mission is to "fight for the survival of America."

According to the organization's website, group members work to "unify, educate and empower parents to defend their parental rights at all levels of government."

The group was founded by three former and current Florida school members, according to a report by Florida Today — former Brevard County School Board member Tina Descovich, former Indian River County School Board member Tiffany Justice and Sarasota County School Board member Bridget Ziegler.

According to Florida Today, Ziegler left the group in late 2021 to focus on other commitments.

Marie Rogerson, a campaign consultant for Rep. Randy Fine, is now the third-leading member of the group, according to the Sarasota Herald-Tribune.

The founders have ties to Gov. Ron DeSantis, Republican Party.

Founder Ziegler is married to Christian Ziegler, Sarasota county commissioner and vice chair of the Republican Party of Florida, who attended President Donald Trump's rally preceding the Jan. 6, 2021, assault on the U.S. Capitol.

Gov. DeSantis also endorsed Ziegler's school board candidacy, and she stood by his side when he signed the "Don't Say Gay" bill into law, according to the GLAAD Accountability Project.

Meanwhile, the group endorsed more than 270 school board candidates last year across the country, all of whom touted similar messaging: School closures during COVID were destructive, critical race theory is itself racist, boys and girls are different and should not share the same locker rooms and restrooms, and schools place too much focus on a pro-LGBTQ agenda.

Later this month, the group plans to hold its annual Joyful Warriors National Summit in Philadelphia.

Scheduled speakers include former President Donald Trump and Gov. DeSantis; presidential candidate and former South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley; presidential candidate Vivek Ramaswamy; Florida Congressman Byron Donalds; North Carolina Lt. Gov. Mark Robinson; president of the Heritage Foundation Kevin Roberts; and Florida Education Commissioner Manny Diaz Jr.

Group members have a history of intimidation, making false claims.

The GLAAD Accountability Project detailed several instances on its website in which Moms For Liberty members made false claims against other school board members and district policies. Many of the instances also chronicle intimidation tactics used by the group.

In October 2021, Brevard County School Board member Jennifer Jenkins — who defeated Moms for Liberty founder Descovich in the November 2020 election — claimed she was called "a Nazi and a pedophile" and was subjected to months of threats, harassment, and intimidation after Moms For Liberty members zeroed in on the county's LGBTQ+ guidelines for administrators, she wrote for The Washington Post.

Jenkins also wrote how protesters showed up at her home and claimed they were sent by Rep. Fine, who has ties to leading Moms For Liberty member Rogerson. Fine also posted Jenkins' phone number on his Facebook page and encouraged people to call her, she wrote.

According to Jenkins, her opponents filed a false claim of child abuse against her and protesters shouted at her 5-year-old child outside her home.

According to the GLAAD Accountability Project, Moms For Liberty members targeted guidelines to protect students' right to dress and use bathrooms according to their gender identity by falsely calling school board members "pedophiles."

Another chapter in New Hampshire also offered bounties encouraging people to report teachers who discuss "divisive concepts."

Moms For Liberty founder called the extremist distinction 'laughable.'

In a statement to the Sarasota Herald-Tribune, Ziegler said the distinction by the SPLC had no merit.

"The Southern Poverty Law Group is not a legitimate organization with any merit," Ziegler said. "Outside of it being a leftist attack, political hit job, there's no credibility behind it. It's truly laughable."

Ziegler continued, "They're utilizing the term hate group in a very reckless manner and I think that they should be held accountable."