RFS feel-good (9/27): Taking on the "Moms for Liberty"
They don't want to teach MLK in schools... Seriously!
Hi all -
It’s been a good week for RFS alum across the country — but before I dig into those, an aside…
We’ve talked in previous updates about Moms for Liberty, a network of anti-mask, anti-equity, anti-equality activists that, among other things, is running trainings for school board candidates. MFL has been in the news this week:
At the center of the controversy in Franklin is a reading curriculum that introduces second graders to the U.S. civil rights movement. Steenman says the material is too focused on the country’s segregationist past, making kids feel uncomfortable about race.
In April, she launched a local chapter of Moms for Liberty, a national organization whose website says it advocates for “parental rights” in education.
Members of Steenman's group pored over the second-grade books, marking up those they found objectionable with highlighters and sticky notes. On June 30, soon after the new law was signed, Steenman sent an 11-page letter outlining potential violations to the Tennessee Department of Education.
Among the books Moms for Liberty deemed inappropriate are “Martin Luther King Jr. and the March on Washington” and “The Story of Ruby Bridges,” about the Black 6-year-old who integrated a Louisiana public school in 1960.
(Side note: Not all people in Franklin are like this! Just a few weeks ago, I talked with Elizabeth Wanczak, candidate for Franklin Alderman, for an episode of our podcast.)
All that’s to say: Recruiting and supporting progressives for school board continues to be some of the most critical democracy-saving efforts on our big to-do list and we won’t stop.
(Also on the to-do list: Recruiting folks to run for election administration jobs. Read about the fight to undermine democracy from inside — conspiracy theorists who don’t believe the 2020 election was legitimate are getting elected or appointed to election administration roles like city/county clerk and making a real mess. )
In more cheerful RFS candidate & alumni updates:
The LA Times talked with RFS candidates Evan Holt (Cincinnati City Council) and Chi Ossé (NYC Council) along with co-founder Ross Morales Rocketto about how young people are staying engaged post-2020 — as candidates, as voters, and as activists.
Cook County Commissioner Kevin Morrison is inquiring about whether the county can end its contracts with companies who donated to sponsors of Texas’s abortion ban.
When she was elected to the NY Senate, her first priority was getting a leadership position on the mental health committee — from there, she’s leading on Daniel’s Law, which would provide for a mental health professional to be the first responder in mental health crises. This is a great convo on her work.
Ann Arbor Councilmember Travis Radina led on a resolution to make the city the third in the nation to implement a tenant commission. Huge!
Durham county commissioner Nida Allam is sharing her infertility struggles with her community to help destigmatize them, especially among Muslim women.
PA Rep. Liz Hainbridge has a powerful op-ed on how close PA is to being like Texas unless representatives stand up for reproductive choice.
CO Rep. Jennifer Bacon sponsored legislation to allow certain drug offense criminal records to be sealed - a small step towards creating equity within a racist system.
Burhan Azeem, candidate for Cambridge City Council, is fighting for universal pre-K for her community.
Another RFS alum is moving on up: RI Sen. Cynthia Mendes is running for Lt. Governor!
You’ll be able to see Sen. Mendes moderate a great convo for us on 9/30 at 8:00 p.m. ET. We’re hosting Unapologetically Progressive & Latinx — get your free ticket now.
On the Run for Something podcast this week: Sheila Nezhad has a long history of activism and serving her community of Minneapolis. After the murder of George Floyd in 2020, the city (and the world) erupted in an unprecedented uprising for Black lives -- Sheila was in the center of it, working with the city government to reimagine public safety, helping create the charter amendment that's now on the ballot and would disband Minneapolis police and instead create a Department of Public Safety. The incumbent mayor failed to deliver on the promise of his election, so Sheila decided someone who was willing to represent the people ought to lead them. Now she's running for mayor in one of the biggest elections of 2021. Read more about the race in Politico, and learn more about her campaign at sheilaforthepeople.com
A tiny promo: Run for Something is hiring! We’re looking for a development director. Help us find the right fit.
Thanks for making all this possible. We’re so grateful to have you on our side.
- Amanda