Protests erupt as controversial Moms for Liberty annual summit in Philadelphia continues
CENTER CITY - Demonstrators flooded Chestnut Street outside the Museum of the American Revolution Thursday night and, again Friday, at the Center City Marriott, in protest of Moms for Liberty hosting its annual summit in Philadelphia.
"I think these people are a sham and they’ve completely twisted reality and absolutely this is an insult to Philadelphians. This is the birthplace of democracy," Dorothy Daub Grossman stated.
The Center City Marriott is under heavy security as the headquarters for the group’s weekend event.
According to its website, the group says it advocates against school curriculums that mention LGBTQ+ rights, race, ethnicity or critical race theory.
They’ve also been labeled a far-right extremist organization by the Southern Poverty Law Center.
"We are against indoctrination. We want education for our children," National Director for Outreach of Moms for Liberty, Catalina Stubbe, said. "We are trying to defend our children and raise transparency in education."
The weekend’s speakers include former president Donald Trump, Florida Governor Ron DeSantis and former governor Nikki Haley, all GOP presidential candidates in the 2024 election.
Trump, DeSantis among 2024 GOP hopefuls set to appear at Moms for Liberty gathering in Philadelphia
Former President Donald Trump and Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, the main rivals for the Republican presidential nomination, are scheduled to speak at the annual gathering of Moms for Liberty.
The group started three years ago and has chapters across the country. One Indiana chapter is under fire for quoting Hitler on its website, a reason protestors say the group is not welcome in Philly.
"I would like them to know that my children are human beings, just like their children," Philadelphia resident Donna Sax said.
RELATED: Trump, DeSantis court Moms for Liberty in a sign of the group's rising influence over the GOP
"What would you say to the critics who are outside protesting you being here,?" FOX 29’s Chris O’Connell asked.
Stubbe replied, "It sounds ridiculous to me. It is insanity."
Leslie Kirschembaum is a mother of four from Florida, in Philadelphia for the group’s summit. "There’s an age where kids need to be kids and we need to keep sexuality out of our children’s eyes and ears. I’m going to protect our children."
Kirby Lawrence Hill, a retired Presbyterian reverend and nursing a broken hip, stood in protest, "We need greater acceptance of all folks and, as a person of faith, my faith stands against bigotry."
Protesters say the museum should never have rented out space for the event. But, groups advocating free speech say this is exactly the way democracy works.
"They resisted those calls to cancel the event. The event’s going on and we think that’s a great outcome for free speech," Aaron Terr, with the Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression, said. "And that’s exactly the outcome we wanted to see."