Dear MoveOn member,
On August 28, the far-right group Moms for Liberty will be hosting their annual conference in Washington, D.C. Moms for Liberty has orchestrated attacks on the rights of LGBTQ+ youth, public education, unions, and democracy. They are behind the wave of racist and anti-LGBTQ+ book bans that have swept the country. The Southern Poverty Law Center, which tracks hate groups, has been sounding the alarm on Moms for Liberty's dangerous activities.1 And disgraced former president Donald Trump said the group was "the best thing that ever happened to America."2
But the Marriott is giving Moms for Liberty a platform—AGAIN.
Moms for Liberty has been accused of "terrorizing schools"—launching hateful harassment campaigns that have left educators, parents, lawmakers, and students in fear. They have used name calling and fear mongering to create hostile environments. They even showed up to a council member's house and threatened, "If you thought January 6 was bad, wait until you see what we have for you."3 With Moms for Liberty’s track record for spewing hateful and violent rhetoric, how can Marriott ensure the safety and wellbeing of its other guests?
Last year, a Moms for Liberty chapter in Indiana even promoted a quote attributed to Adolf Hitler in their newsletter.4 That is the kind of propaganda that the JW Marriott can expect at the "Joyful Warriors" summit. If they don't want hateful, extremist rhetoric filling their lobby, conference rooms, and hotel rooms—creating an unsafe and hostile environment for their other guests—they have a responsibility to refuse to host Moms for Liberty.
Marriott has a history of hosting Moms for Liberty—including their summits in Philadelphia and Tampa. And MoveOn members have a history of calling out Moms for Liberty and Marriott's complicity. Last year thousands of MoveOn members called upon Marriott and the American Constitution Center to withdraw from hosting Moms for Liberty, and protested in Philadelphia to affirm our freedom to read, learn, and be our authentic selves. We have to keep up the pressure, expose Moms for Liberty for the hate group they are, and to make sure corporations know there will be consequences for enabling such dangerous gatherings.
Marriott boasts about promoting a "culture of inclusion and belonging" and offering resource groups for LGBTQ+ employees.5 Yet, they are hosting a group that actively threatens the rights and dignity of LGBTQ+ people. Previous Moms for Liberty summits included troubling sessions like "Protecting Kids from Gender Ideology" and "Comprehensive Sexual Education [CSE]: Sex Ed or Sexualization?"6 GLAAD recently reported on the insidious rhetoric Moms for Liberty uses to vilify LGBTQ+ people, such as using the term "groomers" and warning against "indoctrination." Meanwhile Moms for Liberty actually puts young people in danger by denying the humanity of LGBTQ+ youth and chipping away at their rights, protection, resources, and care.7
Marriott can't say it supports its LGBTQ+ employees and guests while putting them in danger by hosting a known homophobic hate group.
Thanks for all you do.
–Aliya, Noor, Julia, Evelyn, and the rest of the team
Sources:
1. "Moms for Liberty," Southern Poverty Law Center, accessed June 11, 2024
https://act.moveon.org/go/193940?t=8&akid=393581%2E40999114%2EZDmDMb
2. "Six reasons why Moms for Liberty is an extremist organization," The Hill, June 9, 2023
https://act.moveon.org/go/193941?t=10&akid=393581%2E40999114%2EZDmDMb
3. "A Far-Right Moms Group Is Terrorizing Schools in the Name of Protecting Kids," Vice News, April 26, 2023
https://act.moveon.org/go/193942?t=12&akid=393581%2E40999114%2EZDmDMb
4. "Moms for Liberty chapter apologizes for quoting Hitler in its newsletter," Associated Press, June 22, 2023
https://act.moveon.org/go/193943?t=14&akid=393581%2E40999114%2EZDmDMb
5. "A Learning Manager and LGBTQ+|ONE Leader Shares How He Brings His Whole Self to Work," Marriott Careers, May 27, 2024
https://act.moveon.org/go/193944?t=16&akid=393581%2E40999114%2EZDmDMb.
6. "Moms for Liberty Summit Injects Extremism Into the Mainstream," Southern Poverty Law Center, June 29, 2023
https://act.moveon.org/go/193945?t=18&akid=393581%2E40999114%2EZDmDMb
7. "Moms for Liberty Uses False and Inflammatory Language to Vilify LGBTQ People," GLAAD, December 5, 2023
https://act.moveon.org/go/193946?t=20&akid=393581%2E40999114%2EZDmDMb
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