Press Releases
REPORT: Right-Wing Groups Pushing Anti-Critical Race Theory Linked to Voter Suppression Movements
WASHINGTON, DC – Government watchdog Accountable.US released a new analysis today identifying eight prominent groups that are part of the anti-Critical Race Theory astroturf ‘movement’ that also have direct ties to anti-voting and civil rights movements. The report comes as Texas Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick vowed this week to ban critical race theory in public universities.
When you have several far-right groups involved with both efforts to deny people of color the freedom to vote and deny children an accurate and inclusive education, it’s time they admit what they’re really concerned about: people of color having their voices heard. These right-wing billionaire-backed efforts are nothing more than a cynical, calculated strategy to activate the most racist elements of the conservative base and marginalize communities of color.”
Kyle Herrig, president of Accountable.US
- Parents Defending Education is a prominent national anti–critical race theory group founded by Koch Operative Nicole Neily that uses legal action and civil rights lawsuits to fight anti-racism programs in schools. Edward Blum sits on the organization’s board. Blum is infamous for his right–wing megadonor funded assaults on civil and voting rights. Blum litigated the 2013 SCOTUS case that gutted the heart of the Voting Rights Act and attempted to do the same to affirmative action.
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Fight For Schools and Parents Against Critical Theory are prominent groups run by Ian Prior, a former Trump Department Of Justice official, that have descended on the contentious critical race theory debate in Loudoun County. Fight For Schools was a major ally of pro-voting–restrictions and Trump supported governor Glenn Youngkin, who has relied on them for fundraising and filling out his campaign rallies. Parents Against Critical Theory has coordinated with the Heritage Action, which bragged about crafting restrictive voter suppression laws, to run events.
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Free To Learn Coalition is a group running a massive, national anti–critical race theory ad campaign. The group was founded and is likely bankrolled by major dark money group Judicial Crisis Network. Judicial Crisis Network has spent millions to load the Supreme Court with right wing judges and is “effectively controlled” by Trump’s former judicial advisor and Federalist Society executive Leonard Leo. Leo also founded the Honest Elections Project, called a “leading advocate for more restrictive voting laws.”
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Moms For Liberty is a Florida based right–wing group that is mobilizing and aggravating parents against COVID mandates, ‘critical race theory,’ and the depiction of the Civil Rights Movement and LBGTQ rights in curriculums. The group’s supporters have disrupted local school board meetings and engaged in harassment campaigns. One of its founders, Tiffany Justice, is a former local school board official who fought efforts to ensure her school district sufficiently racially integrated following an NAACP lawsuit that alleged the district was not in compliance with a long-standing desegregation order.
