RALEIGH, N.C. — National and local leaders of Moms for Liberty came to Raleigh this week to promote a message that parents have to fight against indoctrination of their children by public schools.

Panelists at the Town Hall voiced concerns on issues such as a rise in school crime and teacher turnover and the difficulties of parents getting educational services for children. Along the way, panelists charged that public schools are attempting to usurp parental rights and promote Critical Race Theory and “gender ideology.”

“Our children are being taught to hate America, to hate the Christian values and the principles of liberty that American was founded upon,” said Abigail Prado, chair of Moms for Liberty’s Union County chapter, near Charlotte. “Our children are not being educated. They are being indoctrinated.”

The event drew about 50 people Wednesday to the Wake County Shrine Club in Raleigh. The Town Hall ended with a protester being escorted out by Raleigh Police after loudly calling the panelists “f---ing liars” and other insults.

Here’s a look at some of the items discussed at the Town Hall.

What is Moms for Liberty?

Moms for Liberty was initially formed in 2021 in Florida to protest pandemic school closures and mask mandates. The group has more than 300 chapters across 48 states.

Moms for Liberty now focuses on trying to limit discussion of gender and sexuality and racial equity in schools, as well as trying to remove books from schools that group members say are age inappropriate.

In North Carolina, Moms for Liberty lobbied for legislation such as the Parents’ Bill of Rights law that bans instruction of gender, sexuality or sexual activity in K-3 classrooms.

Last year, the Wake County chapter of Moms for Liberty unsuccessfully filed challenges to have 189 books removed from school libraries.

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