An online posting by Hamilton County school board member Rhonda Thurman critical of Taylor Lyons – founder of the student rights activist group Moms for Social Justice – has sparked controversy and prompted some county residents to send letters to the board in Lyons’ defense.
Thurman, R-Hixson, sent a letter to The Chattanoogan website on Monday as a response to Lyons’ comments at Thursday’s board meeting, where Lyons condemned the board for allowing Moms for Liberty – a conservative parental rights activist group – to hold school board candidate forums on school grounds.
“Suffice it to say, we are deeply disturbed by the unprecedented access you have granted to a highly partisan, special interest, extremist group on our public school property to host a partisan event,” Lyons said Thursday.
Lyons went on to criticize the board for “opening the door to whatever fringe extremist groups would like to host events on our public school grounds, so long as they cross their finger, wink at you, tell (you) they’re nonpartisan for the afternoon and fill out the proper paperwork.”
Moms for Social Justice activists and other community members took issue with Moms for Liberty hosting the forums due to the group’s politics and public endorsement of Republican school board candidates.