A Massachusetts law enforcement training program has classified Moms for Liberty — a nationwide conservative parental rights group — as a “hate group,” grouping it alongside Antifa and neo-Nazi organizations.
The designation was made by the Massachusetts Municipal Police Training Committee, which trains more than 20,000 officers statewide. The training materials, obtained by Moms for Liberty through a freedom of information request, claimed the group is an “anti-government extremist” organization.
Targeting a Parental Rights Movement
The materials cited the Southern Poverty Law Center’s designation of Moms for Liberty and accused the group of using “parents’ rights as a vehicle to attack public education” and make schools “less welcoming” for minorities and LGBTQ students.
The slides also criticized the group’s opposition to books in public schools that contain sexualized content or promote left-wing race and gender ideology.
Moms for Liberty Responds
“Moms for Liberty is here to show up at school board meetings, speak out against curriculum, failing schools, [and] inappropriate books maybe in your public school library,” said co-founder Tina Descovich.
Comparing the designation to real extremist groups, she noted: “Antifa is burning down whole cities and parts of cities and rioting in the streets. These two are not equivalent.”
Local Police Quietly Support Group’s Efforts
Descovich said the labeling is at odds with the reality on the ground, claiming that local officers privately express support for Moms for Liberty.
“Our chapter chair there in Plymouth County… said she has local members of their police force come up to her all the time [and say], ‘Please keep going. We can’t talk about it publicly, but I have kids. I appreciate you guys speaking out.’”
