Moms for Liberty plans to make their voices heard in Okaloosa County

NICEVILLE — In a county where 57 percent of the voters are registered Republican, a new player has emerged on the scene that will make noise in Okaloosa County politics for years to come. Moms for Liberty of Okaloosa County was formed toward the end of July and currently has 32 members.

Some parents within the county will applaud the group's efforts as it champions parental rights in public education. Some will view the group critically, fearing that it may turn Okaloosa County classrooms into political arenas. Since forming in 2021, Moms for Liberty has taken vocal stands on hot-button education issues such as books and sex education.

As the local chapter begins to fight on behalf of parents, the Northwest Florida Daily News sat down with Chapter Chairwoman Anne Thompson and Co-Chair Cara Marion to discuss the new organization and its potential impact within Okaloosa County.

What is Moms for Liberty?

Calling themselves a "grassroots organization," Moms for Liberty is a conservative outreach organization with one primary goal: defending parental rights against potential government overreach in schools nationwide.

Founded in Florida by three parents who were concerned over the actions by local government and school districts during the COVID-19 pandemic, Moms for Liberty has grown across the country, boasting 285 local chapters across 45 states with over 120,000 members since its launch in January 2021.

"We believe that power belongs to the people," said Thompson. "We have the vested interest that all parents and guardians have over their children's education."

"While a parent was able to see their kid's textbook because they were bringing them home," said Marion, "you don't know exactly what's being taught in the classroom, and it opened our eyes to the things that were being taught in classrooms that should be reserved for the parents as home."

Extremist group designation

In June, the Southern Poverty Law Center labeled the organization a "far-right organization that engages in anti-student inclusion activities and self-identifies as part of the modern parental rights movement." The SPLC also states that Moms for Liberty opposes LGBTQ+ and racially inclusive school curricula. Critics have noted that the law center has, in the past, designated groups that take a stance on political issues as hate or extremist groups.

"I don't see anything hateful about personal rights, the ability to retain and exercise parental rights," said Thompson. "We refute that allegation or that label 100 percent because constitutionally, our footprint is parental rights and government overreach."

"Why would anyone be labeled a hate group if they are making sure that the boundaries between educational boundaries are not encroaching on parental boundaries?" she added.

'We are in alignment more than we're not'

Thompson and Marion explained that they had multiple meetings with the Okaloosa County School District before Moms for Liberty became an organized chapter. Over time, the women said, they found common ground with the district on many matters.

"The superintendent informed me that we are in alignment more than we're not," said Thompson. "I explained our ethos, motivation and desire to collaborate with the district."

"(Superintendent Marcus Chambers) seemed very open to that relationship. Because at the end of the day, the students are what we are here for. Our children are what we are here for."

In a previous interview with the Northwest Florida Daily News, Chambers said the county is committed to following state law.

"In Okaloosa, we are about following the law, "said Chambers. "In our county, we are not about banning books, but we are about having appropriate books at the appropriate level for our students."

One book Thompson brought up during the conversation was "Zahra's Paradise." Set in modern-day Iran, the graphic novel follows a mother searching for her son who disappeared following circumstances surrounding the 2009 presidential election in the country. One reason the book was deemed inappropriate was because of one particular scene where a sex act can be seen in detail with very colorful imagery.

"Do you think that's appropriate?" Thompson asked. "People will say that for a 12-year-old, it might not be. For a senior in high school, that is up to the parent."

"We understand that there are going to be different levels that people believe in their home, and that's their constitutional right to do," Thompson said. "But with public education, you have to have safeguards in place that do not violate the rights of the parents.

"We're not saying don't teach factual history. We're saying teach it appropriately when a child can understand it. We want parents to have a seat a the table so that they can have the opportunity to opt in or out. How can you disagree with those ethos?"

On the Okaloosa County School District website, parents and guardians can find a list of books that have been flagged as "inappropriate" after House Bill 1467 went into effect in July 2022.

Goals for the future

By the end of August, the Okaloosa County chapter of Moms for Liberty plans to have finished its review of the curriculum content within the Okaloosa County School District.

"The parent needs to see and have transparency regarding their child's education," said Thompson.

By this time next year, Moms for Liberty hopes to have activated more parental involvement in education and informed parents of their rights, which they might not even realize they have.

Regarding the school district, the chapter hopes to engage in discourse with the school board and inform the public on how to read meeting agendas and endorse candidates for elected office.

"We are so invested in our civics students," said Marion. The pair says they have ordered over 2,400 pocket booklets that are copies of the Constitution and the Declaration of Independence as a "supplementary gift" for students on Constitution Day later next month.

Moms for Liberty is for all

One thing that may be surprising is the fact that both Thompson and Marion said they welcome people with different political ideologies and encourage anyone to join the chapter.

"Liberty is nonpartisan. If you believe in our mission statement and our ethos, you're welcome," said Thompson. "If you have a dissenting opinion, we welcome it. But bring facts. Let's have a healthy debate.

"We are ensuring that those liberties are preserved and taught and that awareness is available. It reaches everyone; it doesn't matter your political ideology. As long as you believe in those principles, you belong here."

This article originally appeared on Northwest Florida Daily News: Moms for Liberty begins quest for education reform.