Tom Horne, the Arizona Superintendent of Public Instruction, publicly lent his support to Moms for Liberty at a town hall meeting last month.
Moms for Liberty, labeled an “extremist anti-government organization” is the same group that prominently quoted Hitler on a recent summer newsletter.
The “extremist, anti-government organization,” was designated as such by the Southern Poverty Law Center (SPLC). The Southern Poverty Law Center has been recognized as the nation’s leading organization of hate group designation in the U.S. since 1990.
In June, Moms for Liberty Hamilton County Chapter boldly displayed and gave attribution of a quote by Adolph Hitler at the top of their newsletter—it went viral on social media platforms.
Using a quote from the German Nazi leader responsible for the systemic murder of 6 million Jews, is an affront for any organization to be flaunting.
Reportedly, the Moms for Liberty chapter initially tried to defend the use of the quote but later the group may have realized that quoting Hitler is both shocking and horrific and issued an apology. The quote was subsequently removed from their newsletter.
Using a Hitler quote from a right-wing organization deemed an “extremist group” may have resonated with their platform to ban books and remove educational curriculum that doesn’t line up with their ideology.
Moms for Liberty also appears to align with Superintendent Horne’s ideals of actively recruiting and electing more conservatives to Arizona school boards in the year 2024.
“That’s going to be my main occupation for 2024,” Horne said, referring to electing more conservatives to school boards.
Northeast Valley News made several attempts to contact Superintendent Horne at his government office and requested an interview, statement or response over his statements of support of Moms for Liberty at a recent town hall event sponsored by the organization.
According to SPLC, Moms for Liberty and their activities range from engaging in “anti-student inclusion activities,” to “opposing LGBTQ+ and racially inclusive school curriculums and advocating book bans.”
Moms for Liberty is trying to gain a foothold in Arizona, and in recent months have opened up a new chapter in Mesa County. Their total chapters in Arizona now number two – one in Pima County and one in Mesa.
With Horne’s support, the controversial group may see Arizona as the place to grow more chapters.
Horne told the crowd that his values are “very much in common” with Moms for Liberty values and, “I’ll do everything I can to help you.”
Horne’s stated goal of supporting Moms for Liberty and electing conservatives to school boards in 2024 is at odds with many educators who feel that his efforts are best placed elsewhere.
Arizona Education Association President Marisol Garcia said “Everything from smaller classes, to resources, to the amount of adults in the classrooms, to health and safety issues” should take precedence. “All of those things are more important to Arizona educators, to students, and to families” Garcia said.
Moms for Liberty was founded in 2021 in Florida and has chapters in almost all 50 states.
According to the Southern Poverty Law Center, Moms for Liberty “use their multiple social media platforms to target teachers and school officials, advocate for the abolition of the Department of Education, advance a conspiracy propaganda, and spread hateful imagery and rhetoric against the LGBTQ community.”
The group repeatedly denounces LGBTQ+ communities of people and their existence, calling queer people “groomers” and attempting to get queer friendly books banned from public schools.
Other comments made at the Moms for Liberty town hall event were focused on targeting LGBTQ+ rights and included Superintendent Horne calling queer rights groups “the crazy” side.
The entire meeting was posted on YouTube by AZ Right Watch by a watchdog group that follows and exposes far-right ideologies.
Moms for Liberty uses a platform of defending parents’ rights as justification for their efforts—this defense is one echoed by many right wing conservatives and will likely play out on the national stage in the upcoming presidential election.
