Moms for America

Moms for America (MFA), founded in 2004 in Dayton, Ohio is a pro-Trump, non-profit 501(c)(3) organization based throughout the United States.[1][2] Moms for America Action (MFA Action) is the 501(c)(4) political advocacy and lobbying arm of MFA.[3]

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Persons of interest

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The group has some traction in the wingnutosphere: Jon Voight headlined Moms for America's July 4, 2019 "Rally for Freedom" outside the Capitol in Washington DC,[4] and the attorney and anti-mask US Representative Andy Biggs (R-AZ) has spoken at the group's rallies.[5]

MFA was one of several sponsors of the "March to Save America" on January 6, 2021,[6] the Trump rally which rejected the outcome of the 2020 presidential election, in which Donald Trump lost, alleging a vast conspiracy by the Democrats to steal the election. The aggressive rhetoric used fuelled the crowd to march on the Capitol building and breach it in an attempted insurrection that day.

Kimberly Fletcher (founder)

Kimberly Fletcher, the founder and president of Moms for America, believes she had an epiphany on 9/11, when her husband was stationed in the Pentagon. From there on, she became politically involved in right-wing political circles.[7]

'Mexican rapist' claims

In 2018, echoing the howling of xenophobes to secure the US–Mexico border, Fletcher and co. organized a group visit to the border. She told TheBlaze in an interview that sexual assault was common during border crossings, mentioning the alleged rape of a 6-year-old girl by 30 men.[8] Upon realising that the claim was bullshit and pulled directly ex ano, TheBlaze retracted its story:

“”"The original version of this story reported a claim made by Moms For America President Kimberly Fletcher concerning a girl who had allegedly been found by border security agents with 'DNA from 30 men inside her young body.' This claim has been made by numerous individuals on social media but TheBlaze has been unable to independently verify the factual accuracy of the claim."[9]

2020 presidential election

See the main article on this topic: 2020 U.S. presidential election

On November 1, 2020, MFA staged a rally outside the Supreme Court, encouraging the 'right people' (Trumpists) to vote.[10] Fletcher has promoted Trump's baseless accusations of widespread voter fraud in U.S. elections since Trump started making them in 2016[11] and encouraged people to attend the December 12, 2020 "Stop the Steal" rally in Washington DC, which also propagated these lies.[12]

Save the Republic Rally

On January 5, 2021, the day before Congress met for the counting of Electoral College votes, MFA held a "Save the Republic Rally" at Area 9 on Capitol grounds, across from the Russell Senate Office Building.[13] The event drew ~500 people and cost $13,000 to $14,000.[14]

During the rally, Congresswoman Mary Miller (R-IL) issued a statement wherein she said: "Hitler was right on one thing. He said, whoever has the youth has the future." (Yes, the phrase "Hitler was right" was actually in her prepared remarks!).[15][16] Unsurprisingly, many groups and politicians strongly condemned the comment, harshly criticized Miller, and exhorted the GOP to do likewise. Public statements were issued by the U.S. Holocaust Memorial Museum, Anti-Defamation League, World Jewish Congress, and multiple lawmakers.[17] However, Fletcher defended Miller's remarks, saying "Hitler also said, 'Make the lie big, make it simple, keep saying it, and eventually they will believe it'. … The media should focus on the truth instead of relentlessly repeating big lies",[18] apparently completely unaware of the irony of the insurrection being fomented by Trump based on the biggest lie of them all.

Storming of the U.S. Capitol

See the main article on this topic: 2021 U.S. Capitol riot

Moms for America was listed as one of several sponsors of the January 6, 2021, "March to Save America", featuring alongside right-wing groups such as Tea Party Patriots, Stop the Steal, WildProtest.com, Turning Point Action, Phyllis Schlafly Eagles, Rule of Law Defense Fund, Women for America First, Peaceably Gather, the Eighty Percent Coalition, Black Conservatives Fund and Contribute.[6] This was the rally, headed by then-President Trump, which led to the 2021 U.S. Capitol riot|storming of the United States Capitol that day.

Fletcher and MFA Vice-President Debbie Kraulidis were both present at the storming, and praised the rioters who overran the Capitol building.[19]

Funding (as of Jan. 2021)

As of January 21, 2021, Moms for America was listed on AmazonSmile, Amazon's donations platform, and uses PayPal to receive donations, despite these companies claiming to be halting business with the attempted insurrectionists.[20][21]

References

1. Lardner, Richard; Smith, Michelle R. (17 January 2021). "Jan. 6 rally organizers had been on Trump campaign payroll, documents show". The Globe and Mail. The Associated Press (Washington, D.C.).
2. "About". Moms for America. January 2021.
3. "Donate today!". Moms for America Action. "Contributions to Moms For America Action are not tax ^[sic] as we are a 501 c 4 organization."
4. Pogue, James (5 September 2019). "Think Trump Can't Win In 2020? These Bikers Want To Change That." (in en). BuzzFeed News.
5. Anglen, Robert; Hansen, Ronald J.. "New videos emerge tying Andy Biggs to 'Stop the Steal,' but he's pointing to antifa". The Arizona Republic.
6. Corey, Jamie (7 January 2021). "Republican Attorneys General Dark Money Group Organized Protest Preceding Capitol Mob Attack". Documented.
7. Home, KimberlyFletcher.com.
8. Pruet, Jana J. (6 November 2018). "'Moms Caravan' travels to the Texas-Mexico border for a look at the effects of illegal immigration" (in en). TheBlaze.
9. Valverde, Miriam (19 December 2018). "No evidence for claim about a 6-year-old girl found at U.S.-Mexico border 'raped by 30 men'". PolitiFact.
10. Hinton, Justin (1 November 2020). "Early voting ends in Virginia as supporters on both sides push for Election Day turnout". WJLA.
11. Corn, David (12 January 2021). "Sponsors of the pre-attack rally have taken down their websites. Don't forget who they were.". Mother Jones.
12. Zionts, Arielle (14 December 2020). "Noem meeting with Trump on Monday instead of voting for him in Electoral College" (in en). Rapid City Journal Media Group.
13. "Save the Republic Rally – Moms for America".
14. Lardner, Richard; Smith, Michelle R. (18 January 2021). "Records: Trump allies behind rally that ignited Capitol riot" (in en). KWTX. The Associated Press.
15. "Illinois Congresswoman Says 'Hitler Was Right on One Thing'". NBC Chicago. 6 January 2021.
16. Eddy, Melissa (8 January 2021). "Amid the Rampage at the U.S. Capitol, a Sweatshirt Stirs Troubling Memories". The New York Times.
17. Multiple sources:
    • Donovan, Lisa; Petrella, Dan (6 January 2021). "Days after she was sworn in, Illinois US Rep. Mary Miller facing criticism for invoking Adolf Hitler during speech in Washington". Chicago Tribune.
    • Maxwell, Mark (7 January 2021). "Duckworth calls on Congresswoman Miller to resign for quoting Hitler". WGN-TV.
    • Miller, Steve (6 January 2021). "Illinois congresswoman's reference to Hitler condemned by Gov. Pritzker" (in en). WBBM Newsradio.
    • Samuels, Ben (6 January 2021). "Republican congresswoman at pro-Trump rally near U.S. Capitol: 'Hitler was right'" (in en). Haaretz (Washington DC).
    • Jones, Lyndsay; Maxwell, Mark (6 January 2021). "Lawmakers, governor condemn Rep. Mary Miller's 'Hitler was right on one thing' comment". WCIA.
    • Budryk, Zack (7 January 2021). "Newly sworn-in Republican lawmaker condemned by Holocaust Museum after Hitler quote" (in en). TheHill: p. 9 January 2021.
18. Tareen, Sophia (7 January 2021). "Watch now: More demand Illinois U.S. Rep. Mary Miller resign over Hitler remark" (in en). The Pantagraph. The Associated Press.
19. Fletcher:
    • Read, Richard; Hennessy-Fiske, Molly; Chabria, Anita (8 January 2021). "Far-right extremists want to target more capitols, but are divided after D.C. riot". Los Angeles Times.
    Kraulidis:
    • Polito, Vicky (11 January 2021). "Will County Board Member Debbie Kraulidis Must Resign" (in en). Plainfield, IL Patch.
    • Ortiz, Alex (7 January 2021). "Will County Board member attended pro-Trump rally in Washington, D.C." (in en). Shaw Local.
20. Wilson, Teddy; Ferreira, Lou (15 January 2021). "Revealed: US Capitol protesters are still fundraising via Amazon and PayPal" (in en). openDemocracy.
21. Dellinger, A. J. (21 January 2021). "Amazon and PayPal are still being used to raise funds by Capitol rioters" (in en). Mic.