FALL 2018 The Public Eye

In this issue: A Classicist’s Guide to Misappropriated History How Christian Persecution Became White Supremacy’s Newest Disguise The Road to Flint: The Right’s 50-Year Anti-City Agenda LIBRE’s Quest to Deliver the Latinx Powerhouse to the Right Bringing Bad Sex Ed Back: Trump’s Rebranding of Abstinence-Only editor’s letter

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As this issue of The Public Eye goes to press, the midterm results are in, with the PUBLISHER Tarso Luís Ramos uneven verdict that Democrats have regained some power in Washington, but there’s EDITOR still much work to be done. Not least to address the rising tide of Far Right violence Kathryn Joyce that marked the lead-up to Election Day: violence aimed at the Jewish community and COVER ART people of color; journalists and progressive leaders; and women targeted by mobilized Eva Redamonti male supremacism. These troubling developments make it fitting that this issue large- PRINTING ly concerns the various ways racist ideology is showing up in our country today. Red Sun Press In our commentary, “A Classicist’s Guide to Misappropriated History” (pg. 3), EDITORIAL BOARD Donna Zuckerberg explores how the Alt Right and Alt Lite have co-opted classical stud- Frederick Clarkson • Alex DiBranco ies to serve as the idealization of “an imagined golden age of White supremacist patri- Gabriel Joffe• Kapya Kaoma archy they can aspire to recreate.” This misinformed and bigoted appropriation has Greeley O’Connor • L. Cole Parke Tarso Luís Ramos • Zeina Zaatari prompted academics to develop their own curricula to challenge the Alt Right. In “The New Southern Strategy” (pg. 5), Cole Parke makes the case that the The Public Eye is published by conservative cause of “religious freedom,” dominated by claims of “Christian perse- Political Research Associates cution,” has become the new code by which Republicans can appeal to White voters’ Tarso Luís Ramos Executive Director racial anxieties. The original “Southern Strategy” used an evolving sequence of coded Sarah Burzillo language to speak to anti-Black bias: talking first of busing and “states’ rights,” then Finance Manager “law and order” and more abstract discussions of cutting taxes. Today, Parke writes, Frederick Clarkson instead of protecting religious minorities, “religious freedom” has become a cudgel Senior Research Analyst used against them, as well as against LGBTQ people and women. Cloee Cooper “The Road to Flint” (pg. 11), by Anna Clark, illustrates another contemporary re- Research Analyst sult of that same coded racism. Flint’s devastating and prolonged water crisis began Steven Gardiner Senior Research Analyst with Michigan’s appointment of emergency managers—a modern-day manifestation Heron Greenesmith of decades-old anti-urban bias and the Nixonian idea that poor cities are plagued not Senior Research Analyst by racism and economic divestment, but rather lacking personal responsibility. What Amanda Hukanović happened to Flint, Clark writes, arose from the same right-wing belief “that ailing cit- Operations Manager ies just need a better and more authoritarian leader to get things working again—a Gabriel Joffe Editorial Manager presumption that has proved its limits again and again.” Olivia Lawrence-Weilmann Even as much of the contemporary Right has doubled down on racist policies and Program Coordinator rhetoric, some right-wing advocates still attempt to market the GOP to non-White vot- Isabelle H. Leighton ers. In “Kochs in Pro-Immigrant Clothing” (pg. 13), Gabriel Arana investigates how Development Director the LIBRE Initiative and LIBRE Institute are continuing their efforts to draw Latinxs Greeley O’Connor into the Republican Party, despite its feverish hostility to immigrants and refugees. Communications Director Through its regular presence at Latinx community events, LIBRE hopes to both “con- Teddy Wilson Research Analyst vince Latinxs that laissez-faire capitalism will empower them and to draw the ‘sleeping Zeina Zaatari giant’ of American electoral politics to the Right.” Research Director Lastly, in “Bringing Bad Sex Ed Back” (pg. 19), Melissa Mayer reports on how the Fellows Trump administration is reviving the failed, faith-based abstinence-only policies of the Ana Hernández • Jessica Quiason Bush era, now rebranded with the language of scientific legitimacy, as “Sexual Risk Spencer Sunshine • Carl Williams Avoidance.” Under Trump, abstinence-only organizations that have peddled demon- Interns strably false information about teenage pregnancy and sexual health have become the Mira Guth • Stef Salguero new arbiters of policy, using hugely expanded federal funding to condemn all non- Board of Directors marital sexual activity. Jenny Levison, Chair Saqib Bhatti • Ellen Gurzinsky In addition to the stories in this issue, please make sure to read Alex DiBranco’s on- Lynette Jackson • Hamid Khan line commentary on the Tallahassee shooting that’s been tied to right-wing misogynist Scot Nakagawa • Dania Rajendra • Mohan Sikka mobilization, an often-unrecognized part of the increasingly mobilized Far Right. Zeke Spier • Carla Wallace • Susan Wefald In between issues of The Public Eye, PRA publishes blog posts, features, reports, and Cassandra Overton Welchlin more every week, so be sure to visit us at politicalresearch.org. Founder Jean V. Hardisty, Ph.D. Kathryn Joyce 1310 Broadway, Suite 201 Somerville, MA 02144-1837 Tel: 617.666.5300 [email protected] © Political Research Associates, 2018 All rights reserved. ISN 0275-9322 ISSUE 96 www.politicalresearch.org commentary

BY DONNA ZUCKERBERG THE PUBLIC EYE QUARTERLY

PUBLISHER Tarso Luís Ramos EDITOR Kathryn Joyce A Classicist’s Guide to COVER ART Eva Redamonti Misappropriated History PRINTING Red Sun Press EDITORIAL BOARD Frederick Clarkson • Alex DiBranco Gabriel Joffe• Kapya Kaoma Greeley O’Connor • L. Cole Parke Tarso Luís Ramos • Zeina Zaatari The Public Eye is published by Political Research Associates Tarso Luís Ramos Executive Director Sarah Burzillo Finance Manager Frederick Clarkson Senior Research Analyst Cloee Cooper Research Analyst Steven Gardiner Senior Research Analyst Heron Greenesmith Senior Research Analyst Amanda Hukanović Operations Manager Gabriel Joffe Editorial Manager Olivia Lawrence-Weilmann Program Coordinator Design_kuch / Adobe Stock. Isabelle H. Leighton Development Director n the face of a crushing debt crisis, Guide to the Alt-Right,” published on the side both classical sculptures and more Greeley O’Connor it seems unavoidable that students neonazi site The Daily Stormer, Andrew recent sculptures in a self-consciously Communications Director will stop reading great works of Anglin wrote that one of the movement’s classicizing style.2 These images use clas- Teddy Wilson literature and instead spend their mandates was “Endorsement of White sical art as a kind of visual shorthand for Research Analyst Icostly college education studying top- History.” Anglin, the site’s founder, aesthetic ideals that were also leveraged Zeina Zaatari Research Director ics that are more likely to directly lead wrote, “Rejecting revisionist arguments by the Nazis, as classicist Sarah Bond has to financial rewards. Frank Bruni’s May by modern social scientists which por- argued.3 (Famous ancient sculptures are Fellows 1 Ana Hernández • Jessica Quiason op-ed in The New York Times is only one tray Whites as having wrought evil on the also often used in the bizarre digital art Spencer Sunshine • Carl Williams of many premature obituaries for the planet, we view Whites as the creators that accompanies so-called “fashwave” Interns humanities published in recent years. and maintainers of Western civilization.” music, a subgenre of electronic music Mira Guth • Stef Salguero But the value of studying the humanities Next to Anglin’s text was a photograph of that Anglin once deemed “the Whitest Board of Directors has found an unlikely (and unwanted) the Colosseum in Rome. music ever.”4) Jenny Levison, Chair group of defenders in the White nation- Ancient Greece and Rome are an origin But even before the Alt Right entered Saqib Bhatti • Ellen Gurzinsky alist “Alt Right”—or, more specifically, point of sorts for the Alt Right: an imag- the public consciousness in the summer Lynette Jackson • Hamid Khan Scot Nakagawa • Dania Rajendra • Mohan Sikka what is sometimes called the “Alt Lite,” a ined golden age of White supremacist of 2016, Far Right online communities Zeke Spier • Carla Wallace • Susan Wefald closely allied subgrouping that eschews patriarchy they can idealize and aspire were looking to ancient Greece and Rome Cassandra Overton Welchlin outright neonazism in favor of coding to recreate. Many classical scholars first for confirmation of their views. It doesn’t Founder White supremacist views as a celebration became aware of this phenomenon in the take much searching in their virtual fora Jean V. Hardisty, Ph.D. of “Western culture and civilization.” weeks following the presidential election to find articles glorifying ancient history 1310 Broadway, Suite 201 These groups have become some of the of Donald Trump, when the White na- and historical figures. These fascinations Somerville, MA 02144-1837 Tel: 617.666.5300 most vocal proponents of reading classic tionalist group Identity Evropa papered are widespread within different sub- [email protected] works of (European) literature. In an Au- college campuses with posters depicting groups of “The Red Pill” community, as © Political Research Associates, 2018 gust 2016 manifesto titled “A Normie’s vague White supremacist slogans along- many men’s rights activists refer to their All rights reserved. ISN 0275-9322 ISSUE 96 www.politicalresearch.org FALL 2018 Political Research Associates • 3 that contained some dark-skinned char- acters. More recently, Alt Right websites and YouTubers have shifted their focus to the casting of David Gyasi, a Black ac- tor, to play Achilles in the BBC miniseries Troy: Fall of a City (the backlash to which was documented thoroughly in the clas- sicist blog Pharos.)10 It hardly needs saying that the Alt Right’s impassioned defense of the hu- manities isn’t one that most scholars of the discipline welcome. In addition to using the ancient Mediterranean to promote an ideology that is proudly rac- ist and sexist, members of the Alt Right frequently refer to “facts” about classical antiquity that are misleading or flat-out wrong, like the canard that immigration caused the fall of the Roman Empire.11 This talking point, popular among con- servative politicians going back as far as Chudakov / Adobe Stock. Enoch Powell’s infamous 1968 “rivers of blood” speech, is taken as a statement of Ancient Greece and Rome are an origin point of sorts fact by the Alt Right, although the reality for the Alt Right: an imagined golden age of White was considerably more complex.12 In spite of these inaccuracies, the Alt supremacist patriarchy they can idealize and aspire to Right’s enthusiasm for ancient Greece recreate. and Rome is one that we need to take seriously. And in its own way, it makes an excellent case for saving the humani- loose coalition. The Alt Right is particu- Mediterranean societies had a concept ties. Not because we need to preserve larly fond of Classical Sparta, a society of race, it was very different from our and celebrate something called “Western that they believe exemplified both male own—different enough that many schol- civilization,” which, as Kwame Anthony virtue and ethnic purity. The first cen- ars prefer to use the less charged term Appiah has argued,13 is a deeply flawed tury CE Roman poet Ovid has been em- “ethnicity.” Curricula have been devel- and problematic construct, but because braced as the original seduction guru5 by oped for professors of the classics and only by asserting the value of careful, nu- the pickup artist community—a splinter other scholars seeking to incorporate anced scholarship on these issues can we of the men’s rights world that, as writer these discussions into their cultural stud- counteract their pernicious misrepresen- David Futrelle has explained, is closely ies programs. Interested readers can find tations of history. 6 enmeshed with the Alt Right. Texts many useful resources in the bibliogra- Donna Zuckerberg is the author of Not All from Stoic philosophy, such as Marcus phy prepared by Classics at the Intersec- Dead White Men: Classics and Misogyny 8 Aurelius’ Meditations and Epictetus’ tions. in the Digital Age (Harvard University Enchiridion, appear on recommended The Alt Right, however, has brushed Press, Fall 2018). She received her Ph.D. in reading lists on websites promoting mas- aside the complexity of scholarly dis- Classics from Princeton in 2014. She is Ed- 7 culine self-improvement. These ancient cussion about race in the ancient world itor-in-Chief of Eidolon, an online publica- exemplars lend the Red Pill and Alt Right as little more than politically correct tion for longform essays about intersections communities a sheen of intellectual cred- nonsense. Worse, they erupt with fury between classical antiquity and the modern ibility and lineage, convincing them that at scholars who attempt to infuse these world, and her writing has appeared in the Western Civilization was founded on the discussions with some nuance, subject- TLS, Jezebel, and The Establishment. very same values that they glorify. ing them to a virtual tidal wave of online In its idealization of ancient Greece abuse ranging from harassment on social and Rome as a golden age of “White cul- media to emailed death threats to hack- ture,” the Alt Right overlooks the histori- ing and doxxing. The prominent British cal fact that ancient Greeks and Romans classicist Mary Beard incurred their ire themselves were not actually “White” in last summer when she wrote in support any meaningful sense. Although ancient of a BBC cartoon about Roman Britain9

4 • The Public Eye FALL 2018 BY COLE PARKE

The New Southern Strategy How Christian Persecution Became White Supremacy’s Newest Disguise

t the 2016 Republican Na- tional Convention, Tony Per- kins, president of the Family Research Council and an at- Alarge member of the Louisiana GOP del- egation,1 announced from the stage that he would be casting his vote for Donald Trump and encouraged his fellow evan- gelical Americans to do the same. “Per- kins’s endorsement could be a tipping point for the religious right moving be- hind the party’s newly-minted nominee,” suggested The Hill.2 The prediction proved prophetic: on Election Day, White evangelicals turned out in force for Trump, with over 80 per- cent voting for the Republican ticket. Their game-changing status became un- deniably clear, but so did an unsavory truth about their “values voter” identity. For all their talk of morals and virtues, Trump’s misogyny, racism, xenophobia, and bigotry were never really obstacles for the “faith, family, and life” crowd, but part of the appeal. Tony Perkins speaking at the Values Voter Summit in Washington, D.C., on October 7, 2011. Credit: Gage Coded racism’s ever-evolving lexicon Skidmore / Wikimedia Commons. has served to mask the long courtship, but on November 8, 2016, with Perkins and well-known candidate, but he fin- candidate Donald Trump demonstrated serving as the proud officiant, the Chris- ished last in the four-candidate primary reluctance to disavow Duke’s endorse- tian Right finally consummated its mar- after local media resurfaced details of an ment without significant consequence.5 riage to White Nationalism. old racially charged scandal: while work- The conventional wisdom about how ing as the campaign manager for Woody closely connected an elected official can WHO IS TONY PERKINS? Jenkins’ own senatorial bid in 1996, Per- be to an unabashed White supremacist Perkins first emerged on the national kins paid $82,500 for the phone bank has shifted dramatically. The historic re- stage in 2003 when he became president list of former gubernatorial candidate lationship between the Christian Right of the Family Research Council (FRC), a and ex-Ku Klux Klan Grand Wizard David and White Nationalists has also become right-wing policy shop and the Christian Duke and then concealed the purchase.3 more and more conspicuous, and Per- Right’s leading voice in Washington, D.C. The revelation was a huge blow, ulti- kins’ reputation isn’t suffering at all. It was an impressive consolation prize af- mately resulting in Perkins’ fourth-place Alongside its legislative affiliate, FRC ter his failed 2002 run for the U.S. Sen- finish, and (seemingly) the end of his po- Action, Perkins’ FRC focuses on advanc- ate, in which he sought to oust incum- litical career.4 ing “faith, family, and freedom in public bent Democratic Senator Mary Landrieu. But now we live in different times. policy and the culture from a Christian Having served for seven years as a In the 2016 presidential campaign, an worldview.”6 At both national and lo- member of the Louisiana House of Rep- affiliation with David Duke proved to be cal levels, the organization coordinates resentatives, Perkins was an established far less taboo than it was in 2002, as then- lobbying efforts, media work, leader-

FALL 2018 Political Research Associates • 5 ship training programs, and high-profile conducted by the American Culture & THE PERKINS/TRUMP LOVE AFFAIR conferences. Perkins runs the show and Faith Institute (ACFI), a Christian Right Though Perkins was first a supporter of also hosts a radio program, Washington research organization dedicated to mobi- Senator Ted Cruz (R-TX) in the 2016 Re- Watch, which offers “daily insight from lizing conservative voters, revealed that publican primaries, he quickly became leading political figures and culture war- among “SAGE Cons”—their category for one of Trump’s most important links to riors”7 to more than 250 stations, likely “Spiritually Active, Governance Engaged the White evangelical vote. Once it was reaching tens of thousands of listeners Conservative Christians”—Perkins was clear that Trump would secure the Repub- nationwide. considered one of the top five most influ- lican Party’s nomination, conservatives began scrambling to either reaffirm or -re align their loyalties. In June 2016, Per- kins helped organize a gathering of nearly 1,000 leading con- servative Christian ministers and activ- ists from across the country for a closed- door meeting with Trump in New York City. The goal was to help the group bet- ter “understand” the presumed nominee before the November election.13 The coalition laid out a set of core requirements for Trump to gain their support: a commit- President Donald Trump shakes hands with Family Research Council president Tony Perkins at the 2017 Value Voters Summit, Friday, Oct. ment to “pro-life” 13, 2017, in Washington. Credit: AP Photo/Evan Vucci. judges; a conserva- tive running mate; Over the last 15 years, Perkins has ex- ential political analysts in the U.S. The and a promise to uphold the party plat- panded FRC’s size and influence, nearly report concluded that although Perkins form,14 which FRC played such a key role doubling its annual revenue, expanding isn’t a full-time media professional, “His in shaping that Jeremy Peters of The New the organization’s pastor network from daily radio program, Washington Watch, York Times described it as the “Tony Per- less than 2,000 to nearly 25,000,8 and es- along with the numerous articles he kins Platform.”15 tablishing the annual Values Voter Sum- published over the course of the [2016 Trump managed to satisfy these de- mit as the Christian Right’s premier polit- presidential] campaign, clearly hit home mands, and on Election Day, the coali- ical event of the year. The effect has been with the conservative Christian commu- tion’s faithful flocks followed through on tangible: FRC played a prominent role in nity.”11 their leaders’ pledge of support. the fight over California’s Proposition 8 ACFI’s research also showed that 94 Despite a seemingly endless barrage of ballot initiative in 2008, rallying voters percent of SAGE Cons voted for Donald positions, policies, revelations, remarks, across the state to reject state-wide mar- Trump in 2016.12 As both a public-facing and tweets that are antithetical to the riage equality.9 The organization also figurehead of the Christian Right and purported Christian value of “loving one’s claims credit for the growing momentum a behind-the-scenes bellwether for the neighbor as oneself,” Perkins continues to eliminate federal funding for Planned conservative movement, Perkins played to function as a critical bridge between Parenthood and other abortion provid- a major role in delivering this decisive the current administration and White ers.10 constituency to a candidate who didn’t evangelicals, serving both as Trump’s At the same time, Perkins has raised initially inspire much evangelical enthu- advisor and as his cheerleader and in- his own profile, amassing tremendous siasm. terpreter. When adult film star Stormy personal political power both nation- Daniels publicly disclosed her affair with ally and internationally. A 2016 survey Trump, for example, Perkins quickly at-

6 • The Public Eye FALL 2018 tempted to put out the fire by doling out mented, religious freedom was initially famous “Muslim Ban.”26 a “mulligan” for the president’s “personal conceived of as an important strategy for Perkins said that Muslims in Syria, failings.”16 protecting religious minorities from the Iraq, and Nigeria—whom he refers to as And Perkins’ loyalty has paid off: he dominant culture’s religious imposition, anti-Christian “tyrants”—were embold- boasts of regular visits to the White and preserving the separation of church ened by the Obama administration’s “in- House,17 and is a prominent member and state.22 Given the Christian Right’s difference toward religious persecution.” of the President’s ad hoc evangelical role in redefining this progressive value Writing at FRC, he argued: advisory board, along with many of to justify discrimination against LGBTQ Little by little, they let their deep ha- the Religious Right’s other leading fig- people, women, and others who don’t tred for certain faiths turn violent. As ures, including former Congresswoman Michele Initially intended to protect religious minorities, religious freedom Bachmann (R-MN) and Fo- cus on the Family founder has been redefined by the Christian Right to justify discrimination James Dobson. Richard against LGBTQ people, women, and others who don’t align with Land, former head of the Southern Baptist Conven- the Right’s ideological views. tion’s Ethics & Religious Liberty Commission and another mem- align with the Right’s ideological views, time passed, and they grew more con- ber of the advisory board, bragged in an their increasingly dominant presence in fident that the United States govern- interview on Washington Watch that un- the USCIRF—and throughout the Trump ment wouldn’t intervene, their attacks der Donald Trump, the Religious Right administration—is cause for much con- became bolder, more ferocious. Inno- has gained “unprecedented access” to the cern. cent men, women, and children were White House and its policies.18 Following the announcement of his gunned down, beheaded, raped, tor- appointment to the Commission, Gary tured, or chased from their homes sim- RELIGIOUS FREEDOM AND THE ANTI- Bauer was blatantly clear about his pri- ply because of who they were and what CHRISTIAN “DISEASE” orities, tweeting that his primary focus they believed. It was like a disease that In May 2018, the Christian Right would be the “growing persecution of America’s silence left to fester.27 gained even greater authority with the Christians.”23 Now Perkins has the weight of the gov- appointment of three far-right evan- Perkins, too, depicts Christians as an ernment behind him as he goes to battle gelicals, including Perkins and former oppressed and persecuted class that is against this anti-Christian “disease,” the FRC president Gary Bauer, to the U.S. under constant siege by “secularists” for cure for which is assuredly bad for LG- Commission on International Religious their anti-LGBTQ, anti-abortion convic- BTQ people, women, and Muslims. Freedom (USCIRF). Created by the Inter- tions. Though he’s quick to acknowledge national Religious Freedom Act of 1998, that American Christians aren’t as threat- WHITE SUPREMACY’S NEWEST DIS- USCIRF is an independent, bipartisan ened as others—“we can face name-call- GUISE commission “dedicated to defending the ing and ‘hate’ lists whereas Christians in But is there really an epidemic of Chris- universal right to freedom of religion or the Middle East have been put to death tian persecution in the U.S., or is it just belief abroad.” Its nine volunteer mem- for their beliefs,” he said—Perkins is just a useful stand-in for a different kind of bers are tasked with reviewing “the facts as quick to link the two, arguing, “the op- fear? and circumstances of religious freedom position to Christians here and abroad is The continued allegiance of White violations” and suggesting policy solu- rooted in the same opposition—it’s just evangelicals to Trump despite his marital tions to the president, the State Depart- different in degree.”24 infidelity, blatant misogyny, theologi- ment, and Congress.19 Perkins and FRC also have a long track cal ignorance, and profanity-laced vola- In the past, progressive critics have ac- record of spreading anti-Muslim rheto- tility is confounding to many. Trump’s cused USCIRF of being ineffective, anti- ric, charging, among other things, that adherence to the Christian Right’s anti- Muslim, and disproportionately focused Islam is “incompatible with the Con- abortion, anti-LGBTQ agenda is often on the persecution of Christians.20 Un- stitution” and therefore not entitled to assumed to be the key attraction in this der the Trump administration, the latter the same rights and protections that the perplexing courtship, but what’s rarely of those charges is no longer a liability, Christian Right claims as unrestricted highlighted or discussed is the other part and the first is now being mitigated by First Amendment guarantees.25 In a 2015 of this voting bloc’s two-part identity: the addition of a new “Religious Liberty editorial entitled “How Do You Solve a that is, that they’re White. Task Force,” announced in July 2018 by Problem like Sharia?” Perkins warned The Christian Right’s entrance into Attorney General Jeff Sessions as a way to of the national security threat posed by politics is generally thought of as a logi- combat “dangerous” secularism.21 “radicalized Muslims,” and advocated for cal conservative backlash to the sexual As PRA Senior Research Analyst “better, safer vetting protocol” for immi- revolution and the Supreme Court’s 1973 Frederick Clarkson has carefully docu- grants—a foreshadowing of Trump’s in- Roe v. Wade decision. Resistance to ho-

FALL 2018 Political Research Associates • 7 mosexuality and abortion has dominated Christian Right political engagement: In Personal Faith, Public Policy, a 2008 the conservative agenda for so long that “I had discussions with all the lead- call-to-arms for the Christian Right co- the racial resentment that first spurred ing lights of the movement in the late authored by Perkins and Rev. Harry R. evangelicals into action is often forgot- 1970s and early 1980s, post-Roe v. Jackson, Jr., a popular Black evangelical ten. But before Roe was ever a household Wade,” [Weyrich] said, “and they were megachurch pastor, the authors lay out name, it was the encroaching threat of all arguing that that decision was one “a comprehensive strategy that can bring desegregation that ultimately wedded more reason why Christians had to evangelicals together across racial and (White) preachers and (White suprema- isolate themselves from the rest of the denominational lines.” Adding to the cist) politics. world.” traditional bread-and-butter issues of the In 1971, the Supreme Court ruled in “What caused the movement to sur- Christian Right—“the sanctity of human Coit v. Green that racially discriminatory face,” Weyrich continued, “was the fed- life, the preservation of marriage, and private schools were not eligible for tax- eral government’s moves against Chris- the defense of our Christian faith”—the exempt status. The case was part of a tian schools.” The IRS’s objection to authors argue that other contemporary broader effort by the federal government segregated schools, he said, “enraged the issues should be addressed, including to enforce the provisions of the Civil Christian community.”30 immigration, poverty, the environment, Rights Act of 1964, and in 1975, the IRS With right-wing evangelical leaders and racial reconciliation.33 sought to revoke the tax-exempt status finally paying attention, Weyrich moved In the book, Perkins recounts how he of Bob Jones University (BJU), a private quickly, directing their rage and energy publicly repented for the “racism of white evangelical school in Greenville, South into the formation of institutions that evangelicals that had divided the body of Carolina, because the school’s regula- would become the bedrock of the New Christ” at an event in 1992.34 But that tions forbade interracial dating. (Prior to Right: the Moral Majority, the Heritage posturing didn’t stop him from purchas- 1971, the school had denied admission Foundation, the American Legislative ing David Duke’s phone list four years to Black students altogether.) Exchange Council, the Free Congress later, or prevent him from addressing the Louisiana Coun- cil of Conservative Under the “Southern Strategy,” unabashed racists like David Duke Citizens (CCC), a White nationalist continued to express anti-Black attitudes, but most Republican organization, while politicians talked instead about “law and order” and “states’ rights.” he was a Louisiana state legislator in 2001. Perkins in- sists that he didn’t BJU challenged the IRS, but in 1983 in Foundation, and the Council for National know about either Duke’s connection to an eight-to-one decision, the Supreme Policy, all of which he co-founded. the list or the CCC’s racist history, and Court upheld the government’s right to The Council for National Policy (CNP), that he “opposes racial discrimination.” deny tax-exempt status to the school on often considered a who’s who of the But his efforts to resist it have consis- account of its racially discriminatory pol- Right, is a secretive organization that tently proven hollow.35 Despite Perkins’ icies. Upon learning of the Court’s deci- networks right-wing donors and their op- claimed advocacy for a more expansive sion, the Rev. Bob Jones III proclaimed, erative allies to collaborate on long-term vision of the Christian Right agenda, the ‘’We’re in a bad fix in America when eight movement strategy.31 Though the orga- issues highlighted on FRC’s website are evil old men and one vain and foolish nization intentionally works under the still limited to Life, Marriage and Fam- woman can speak a verdict on American radar and keeps its membership confi- ily, and Religious Liberty. And after FRC liberties… You no longer live in a nation dential, the Southern Poverty Law Center hosted Trump at its 2017 Values Voter that is religiously free.’’28 In other words, obtained and published one roster from Summit, the Rev. William Barber, one of Jones’s definition of religious freedom in- 2014, which listed Perkins as CNP’s vice the most prominent faces of the contem- cluded the right to racially discriminate. president.32 Subsequent reports on CNP porary Religious Left, blasted Perkins’ or- Paul Weyrich, one of the most impor- events indicate that Perkins has since ganization as “no more represent[ing] Je- tant architects of the modern Christian been promoted to head of the secretive sus than did the church authorities who Right (and a friend and role model to Per- organization. backed slavery.”36 kins29), was paying attention. Weyrich, a Meanwhile, Greenwell Springs Baptist devout Catholic, had for years attempted UNITED BY FAITH, AND RACE Church, Perkins’ home church in Louisi- to galvanize evangelical allegiance to Given the Religious Right’s deeply en- ana, didn’t welcome its first Black mem- his political agenda. In his book, Thy trenched racist history, it’s not surpris- bers until 2006,37 and the church’s staff Kingdom Come: An Evangelical’s Lament, ing that until relatively recently, the is still entirely White.38 The church is an author Randall Balmer recalls Weyrich language of racial reconciliation was en- affiliate of the Southern Baptist Conven- explaining the eventual evolution of tirely foreign in evangelical spaces. tion (SBC), which, with over 15.2 million

8 • The Public Eye FALL 2018 members, represents one of the Christian of civil rights for Black people and to fed- that.”43 Right’s most dominant voices.39 (It’s also eral intervention on their behalf. (More But Phillips didn’t take into account one of its Whitest, with a membership recently, the Right similarly insisted that the reality that White people would even- that’s 85 percent White, even though decisions regarding marriage equality tually become a minority in the United SBC churches are most prevalent in re- should be determined at the state level States, and without the demographic gions where African Americans compose rather than by the federal government— edge of a White racial majority, winning a higher proportion of the general popu- a thinly veiled attempt to disguise their a national, democratic election becomes lation than the national average.40) homophobia.) significantly more difficult with -a plat Founded in 1845, the SBC’s formation In 1981, Lee Atwater, a top Republican form that actively oppresses and alien- was the result of a split between White strategist, explained the covert intent ates people of color. Southern Baptists who disagreed with of this terminology in a 1981 interview The solution, of course, to maintain- the abolitionist sentiments and activities with political scientist Alexander Lamis: ing a White Christian-dominated society of their Northern church brethren. In You start out in 1954 by saying, (that wants to at least appear democratic) other words, the SBC was established for “N*****, n*****, n*****”. By 1968 you is to simply place restrictions on who can the express purpose of defending slavery. can’t say “n*****”—that hurts you. or can’t vote. Paul Weyrich understood During the Civil Rights Movement, mem- Backfires. So you say stuff like forced this better than almost anyone. bers of the convention almost unilater- busing, states’ rights, and all that Speaking at a Religious Right gather- ally supported segregation. And though stuff. You’re getting so abstract now ing in Dallas, Texas, in 1980, Weyrich the SBC formally reversed course in 1968 [that] you’re talking about cutting tax- revealed part of the anti-democratic with the passage of an official statement es, and all these things you’re talking methodology by which he intended for endorsing desegregation and his movement to gain domina- confessing a share of respon- tion: “I don’t want everybody to sibility for the failure to create Ultimately, the goal was to talk about vote. Elections are not won by a “conditions in which justice, race without actually talking about majority of people—they never order, and righteousness can have been from the beginning prevail,”41 the denomination race. of our country and they are not effectively fed into the tide of now. As a matter of fact, our White racial resentment throughout the about are totally economic things and leverage in the elections, quite candid- 1950s and ’60s. a byproduct of them is [that] Blacks get ly, goes up as the voting populace goes During those years, the conservative hurt worse than Whites. And subcon- down.”44 movement expressly established unity sciously maybe that is part of it. I’m not In other words, as writer Noah Ber- through intentional exploitation of racial saying that. But I’m saying that if it is latsky observes, “A party built on demon- polarization. As the Civil Rights Move- getting that abstract, and that coded, izing and attacking marginalized people ment and the dismantling of Jim Crow that we are doing away with the racial is a party that will have to disenfranchise laws provoked a deepening of pre-exist- problem one way or the other. You those same people if it is to survive.”45 ing racial tensions throughout the South, follow me—because obviously sitting Voter disenfranchisement has become Republican strategists sought to win over around saying, “We want to cut taxes, a racialized, anti-democratic epidemic White, conservative voters in the region we want to cut this,” is much more in the decades since. After Trump’s 2016 who had traditionally supported the abstract than even the busing thing, victory, Kristen Clarke, executive direc- Democratic Party. and a hell of a lot more abstract than tor of the Lawyers’ Committee for Civil It was known as the “Southern Strat- “N*****, n*****.”42 Rights Under Law, observed, egy,” and it worked. Between 1948 and Ultimately, the goal was to talk about The most intense voter suppression 1984, the Southern states—previously race without actually talking about race. efforts can be traced to a 2013 ruling a stronghold for the Democratic Party— issued by the U.S. Supreme Court that became key swing states. Unabashed rac- THE CHRISTIAN RIGHT’S ANTI- gut [sic] a core provision of the Vot- ists like David Duke continued to overtly DEMOCRATIC DOMINANCE ing Rights Act. Since the day the rul- express and nurture anti-Black attitudes, The Southern Strategy was effective, ing was issued in Shelby County, Ala- but most Republican politicians sought but it also pigeon-holed the Republi- bama v. Holder, states have unleashed to present a more “respectable” image can Party as the party of White racial a seemingly-coordinated campaign to in order to win over White Southerners. resentment. Kevin Phillips, a conserva- make voting more difficult. Those- ef They did so by talking about “law and tive electoral analyst and one of the big- forts bore fruit during the 2016 presi- order” (a critique of the strategies and gest promoters of the Southern Strat- dential election cycle.46 tactics of the Civil Rights Movement) egy, proclaimed in 1970, “From now on, and deploying rhetoric about protecting the Republicans are never going to get A NEW SOUTHERN STRATEGY “states’ rights”: a coded way to express more than 10 to 20 percent of the Negro As Lee Atwater explained in 1981, their opposition to federal enforcement vote and they don’t need any more than when overt racism becomes socially un-

FALL 2018 Political Research Associates • 9 acceptable you have to be more abstract Conveniently, within the self-image that privileges conservative Christians in your language and in your strategy— of the Christian Right, Whiteness and and justifies discrimination against - LG you talk about “states’ rights” and the Christianity are often synonymous, and BTQ people and women, all the while economy when unabashed resistance it’s far easier to sound the alarm about portraying it as a necessary shield against to civil rights, justice, and equality be- “Christian persecution” than to admit rising persecution. comes uncouth. Today, the codes are the truth of one’s racism. Additionally, Perkins was thrilled. “In an era when shifting again. claiming victimhood is far preferable public prayer and displays of faith are so Bob Jones’ complaint that “You no lon- than owning one’s complicity in the per- readily attacked,” he wrote, “social con- ger live in a nation that is religiously free” petuation of another’s oppression. servatives were heartened to hear this when you’re prevented from discriminat- Trump caught on early. In a Janu- reaffirmation of the role religion has ing against people on the basis of their ary 2016 interview with the right-wing played—and is still playing—for the pub- race signaled a change in the Southern Christian Broadcasting Network, then- lic good of our country.”50 Strategy’s trademark code language. The candidate Trump responded to a ques- Significantly, the 2017 VVS also- fea rhetoric of “states’ rights” wasn’t suffi- tion from David Brody about protecting tured Steve Bannon, a former strategist in Trump’s administration and co- The rhetoric of “states’ rights” wasn’t sufficiently masking founder of Breitbart News, which he described in 2016 as “the plat- the goal of maintaining White racial dominance anymore, form for the alt-right.” Breitbart but Jones had successfully identified a new alternative: has also been referred to as an “online haven for White National- religious freedom. ists.”51 But Bannon’s appearance at VVS served to soften his and the ciently masking the goal of maintaining Christians by saying that Christians are Alt Right’s image among White evangeli- White racial dominance anymore, but “under siege”: cals, helping strengthen the increasingly Jones had successfully identified a new You look at Syria where they’re chop- public bond between the Christian Right alternative: religious freedom. ping heads off, specifically of Chris- and White nationalists. The Christian Right is currently us- tians, and others… we have to do some- What Bannon and Perkins both know ing their version of religious freedom thing, we have to band together, we is that the relationship between Chris- to justify discrimination against LGBTQ have to become stronger as Christians tian supremacy and White supremacy is people, restrict access to comprehensive because it is very bad what’s happening the real “traditional marriage.” Because reproductive health care, and obstruct with respect to Christianity. We’re just ultimately, the Christian Right isn’t just Muslims and other non-Christians from not banded together properly, and we concerned with asserting and maintain- their constitutional rights. But in the ini- have to stick together whether it’s very, ing theocratic dominance in the U.S.— tial corruption of the principle, the Chris- very serious things like is happening they’re fundamentally invested in White tian Right had cast religious freedom as a over in the Middle East or things such dominance. Left unchecked, their grow- tool of White supremacy and racism, and as “Merry Christmas” where you don’t ing power represents one of the greatest that remains their prevailing interpreta- see it anymore in department stores.47 threats to multi-racial democracy this tion. The rhetoric of Christian persecution country has ever known. Being associated with White suprema- strategically sparks fear in evangelicals, Cole Parke, former research analyst at PRA, cists like David Duke might not carry many of whom are on the lookout for studied theology at Texas Lutheran Uni- the same sort of campaign-ending con- indicators of the “end times” and the im- versity, earned their Master’s in Conflict sequences that it once did, when ear- pending apocalypse that is believed to be Transformation at Eastern Mennonite Uni- lier generations of candidates were com- a necessary precursor to Jesus Christ’s re- versity’s Center for Justice & Peacebuild- 48 pelled to disavow Duke or return White turn. This fear is then amplified by the ing, and has been working at the intersec- nationalist campaign contributions, but racist, xenophobic fears underlying anti- tions of faith, gender, and sexuality as an in today’s America, White people are Muslim, anti-immigrant, and anti-Black activist, organizer, and scholar for more generally still reluctant to think of them- sentiments, serving to galvanize and than a decade. Their research and writing selves as racist. However, fear among unify White racial resentment. examines the infrastructure, mechanisms, White Americans sparked by demo- Last year, Trump declared to the tri- strategies, and effects of the Religious graphic shifts and their imminent fall umphant attendees at FRC’s Values Right on LGBTQ people and reproductive from racial majority status, coupled with Voter Summit (VVS), “In America, we rights, both domestically and internation- the rising resistance of Black and Brown- don’t worship government—we worship ally, always with an eye toward collective led justice movements (and eight years God.”49 He went on to highlight all the liberation. of a Black president), has ushered in new ways in which he has advanced the Chris- tidal waves of White racial resentment tian Right’s religious freedom formula, and fear. contorting it into a tool of oppression

10 • The Public Eye FALL 2018 BY ANNA CLARK

The Road to Flint The Right’s 50-Year Anti-City Agenda

here was a time when cities, and implicitly, that Black I thought that emer- people couldn’t be counted on gency management— to govern themselves. Today, Michigan’s system of the modern-day manifesta- Tstate oversight of struggling tion of that argument is seen in cities and schools—might be emergency management, which the best of a number of bad holds that ailing cities just need options. When an emergency a better and more authoritar- manager was sent to my own ian leader to get things work- city of Detroit in 2013, seizing ing again—a presumption that authority that would normally has proved its limits again and be wielded by an elected mayor again. and city council, I was sad and And so it followed that Michi- wary, but also reflective.1 It was gan’s emergency management an emergency here. helped steer Detroit through the Decades of disinvestment, largest municipal bankruptcy billions in debt, and the loss of in U.S. history.9 But in Flint, more than half our peak popu- Flint City Limit, Michigan. Photo: Linda Parton/Adobe. decisions made under a series lation created a downward spi- of emergency managers set in ral that seemed perpetual. Vacant lots, ing years of discrimination, hundreds of motion a catastrophic drinking water houses, storefronts, schools, and sky- cities erupted in the 1960s. One of them crisis.10 Meanwhile, without the sys- scrapers scarred the city. Miles of bro- was Detroit, where, in the midst of the temic intervention urged by the Kerner ken streetlights left tens of thousands of most lethal uprising of all,4 President Commission, infrastructure inequality people in the dark. Cash-strapped fire Johnson convened the bipartisan Kerner is perpetuating itself, exacerbating the and police services, crumbling infra- Commission to diagnosis the nation’s divides that the commission saw coming structure, and a backlog of more than urban crisis. In its 1968 report, the Com- 50 years ago. 11,000 untested rape kits2 put lives at mission urged a reckoning with systemic There are 22 states that have some risk. If emergency management could racism.5 It noted the “massive transition” oversight mechanism for distressed cit- staunch the bleeding—an extreme mea- already unfolding: White people and in- ies and public schools.11 Michigan’s law sure to meet extreme need, undertaken stitutions had abandoned urban centers was used sparingly until after the 2010 by an outsider who was unconstrained for the suburbs, creating a destructive election of Republican Governor Rick by electoral concerns—then wouldn’t it “racial ghetto.”6 It issued a strong call Snyder, when Republicans assumed con- be worth it? And besides, it was long past for integration as “the only course which trol of all branches of state government, time for the state to take some responsi- explicitly seeks to achieve a single nation and soon expanded the law, setting a bility for the results of its long-simmer- rather than accepting the present move- lower threshold to declare an “emer- ing neglect of core cities. ment toward a dual society.”7 gency.”12 Emergency management sus- It’s not by chance that the U.S. is full of But soon, Richard Nixon was elected pended the authority of locally elected hollowed-out urban centers. Residents president, championing “law and order” leaders and gave it to an administrator are disproportionately poor and people and demanding that rioters and criminals chosen by the state—and then some, as of color, surrounded by wealthier and be held accountable for the destruction emergency managers were empowered Whiter suburbs. It traces back to the of their own communities.8 It was a per- to make or break contracts and to sell city Great Migration, which brought great spective grounded in right-wing ideol- assets without the consent of local law- numbers of African Americans to seg- ogy—that a lack of personal responsibil- makers or voters.13 (The only thing they regated cities and pushed the “separate ity, rather than racism and concentrated couldn’t do was miss bond payments to but equal” doctrine to its limit.3 Follow- poverty, was the problem with struggling creditors.14)

FALL 2018 Political Research Associates • 11 In 2011—on Election Day, no less—the left office, he signed an order prohibiting ton, D.C. That was unusual. It’s more state announced that Flint would be the Flint from modifying any of his decisions common to see the same emergency first community to be put under the ex- until it had been out of receivership for at managers cycle through the same Michi- panded system.15 A year later, Michigan least a year.24 gan communities again and again. That’s voters overturned the expanded emer- It took 18 months of community orga- because the biggest crisis in disinvested gency management law in a statewide nizing for the state to intervene in Flint’s cities isn’t leadership; it’s a structural and referendum, yet the lame duck legisla- water crisis,25 and three months more historic crisis, with origins well beyond ture resurrected it. A few weeks after before a full-scale recovery response be- the city borders—and it includes belief the referendum, it passed a near-iden- gan.26 The ensuing criminal investiga- systems about whose lives are valuable, tical version of the law, which Snyder tion indicted 15 people to date, most of and whether an us-versus-them society signed.16 This time, it included appro- them from the state environmental and is preferable to one that’s integrated and priations, making it immune from go- health departments.27 (Four received organized for the common good. Emer- ing before voters again.17 The state’s rush plea deals.) Two emergency managers gency managers with modest creden- probably had to do with its plans for De- were also charged. But the pattern is tials—they’re only required to have five troit, which would receive its emergency plain: under emergency management, years of experience in business or a re- lated field33—can tinker with a budget, but austerity is of little The biggest crisis in disinvested cities isn’t leadership; it’s a use in places that are already structural and historic crisis, with origins well beyond the city cut to the marrow. borders—and it includes belief systems about whose lives are In the state and federal Flint water crisis investigations, valuable. Michigan’s emergency manag- er law was routinely cited as a manager a few months later.18 (Flint’s there is no meaningful accountability or contributing factor.34 While many think disempowered mayor later told me that transparency for bad decisions. As legal the law is irredeemably undemocratic he felt that his city was used as a test case cases wind through the courts, the state and should be repealed, there have also for Detroit. “The terrible tragedy of what is going so far as to argue that emergency been a number of proposals to change it happened with the water crisis is, it be- managers are not state officials at all, but for the better. Perhaps there shouldn’t came clear that there were a large num- local ones.28 be a single emergency manager, but a ber of people who were not acting in the Emergency management also dispro- three-person panel, including two local interests of the Flint community,” added portionately restricts the voting rights officials. Perhaps it should only be insti- then-mayor Dayne Walling. “There was of Black-majority cities and schools. As tuted if local leaders request it. Perhaps a pretending. There was a pretending to of 2017, more than half of Michigan’s emergency managers should be assigned act in the interest.”19) Black residents and 16 percent of Latinx not to a single city, but to a county, where While under emergency management, residents lived in cities with emergency they would be in a better position to deal changes to Flint’s drinking water system managers.29 Only two percent of White with the regional context for urban core caused contamination with lead, E.coli, people could say the same.30 Black disinvestment. The county model would and a carcinogenic byproduct of the dis- Michigan residents were five times as also help remedy the racial disparity of infection process.20 It was also almost likely as White residents to live under an the law. certainly connected to a two-year out- emergency manager between 2009 and But to date, no action has been taken. break of deadly Legionnaires’ disease.21 2016.31 The Voting Rights Act forbids The state has boasted that, by June 2018, While the switch was celebrated as a path disenfranchisement tactics like replacing no communities were under state over- to more affordable water, Flint’s infa- elected leaders with appointed ones,32 sight for the first time in 18 years.35 And mously expensive water bills rose even but Michigan’s law seems to slide by on a yet, Michigan’s potent emergency man- higher.22 A different source of water did technicality—it creates an appointed post agement law is the same as it was during not solve the mathematical problem of that supersedes all the elected ones. But Flint’s water crisis—an egregious omis- having fewer and poorer ratepayers to the effect is the same: the voting power of sion that makes communities more vul- maintain a system that was still sized for communities of color is undercut. And it nerable, not less. the 1960s, when the city had more than can go on indefinitely. While emergency Anna Clark is a journalist in Detroit. She twice the population and a flourishing managers are given an 18-month term, is the author of The Poisoned City: Flint’s industrial sector to help carry the cost. they tend to resign just short of the dead- Water and the American Urban Tragedy When Flint’s city council voted to return line. When a new emergency manager is (Metropolitan, 2018). to Lake Huron water from Detroit, its fi- appointed in their place, the clock starts nal emergency manager ignored them, over. as he was legally allowed to do, given the Detroit’s emergency manager was a council’s disempowerment.23 Before he star bankruptcy lawyer from Washing-

12 • The Public Eye FALL 2018 BY GABRIEL ARANA

Kochs in Pro-Immigrant Clothing LIBRE’s Quest to Deliver the Latinx Powerhouse to the Right

Daniel Garza speaking at a LIBRE Initiative forum in Las Vegas, Nevada, in 2015. Photo: Gage Skidmore/Flickr.

n a balmy July evening in Tem- with opportunity and freedom, people hats heckled the speakers during the pe, Arizona, around two-dozen are going to want to come, and when question-and-answer session. The ap- people gathered for a buffet people come, it only makes our country parent ringleader, a White woman with reception and forum on immi- better,” said Alfaro, an organizer and long, curly hair, held up a smartphone as Ogration at the Arizona Heritage Center. public-relations specialist who set up she interrupted the panelists’ discussion, Sponsored by the LIBRE Initiative—a LIBRE’s Arizona branch in 2013. broadcasting her stunt on social media. libertarian nonprofit founded by former Flanked by placards touting the ben- “Why do people come illegally when they George W. Bush White House staffer efits of immigrants to Arizona’s - econ can come to the U.S. legally?” she de- Daniel Garza to inform “the U.S. His- omy—$2.5 billion added to the state’s manded. The trio snickered while the im- panic community about the benefits of GDP, $5.4 billion paid in taxes—Alfaro migration lawyer explained that current a constitutionally limited government, advocated raising caps on visas and immigration caps, set in the 1990s, fell property rights, rule of law, sound urged Congress to offer Dreamers a path far short of meeting the labor demands money supply and free enterprise”—and to citizenship in exchange for increased of the American economy over the next broadcast live on Telemundo, the bilin- border security, a Republican sticking two decades. The woman tried to inter- gual panel included a local immigration point. On several occasions, he lamented ject again, prompting the moderator to attorney; an undocumented youth from political gridlock on immigration. “We ask the speakers for closing statements. Aliento, an activist group comprising un- can point fingers at Democrats or Repub- A musician played an electric guitar as documented immigrants brought to the licans…but at the end of the day, we need attendees at the Arizona forum shuffled U.S. as children, known as “Dreamers”; to point the finger at ourselves and say, past tables of LIBRE swag—wristbands, and Carlos Alfaro, the Arizona coalitions ‘Am I being one of those people that is be- pens, chapstick, sunglasses, and signs director for the LIBRE Initiative. ing polarized?’”1 emblazoned with the group’s logo and “When you have a desirable economy Three attendees wearing Trump slogan: “Limited Government · Unlim-

FALL 2018 Political Research Associates • 13 ited Opportunity.” The three Trump President Donald Trump announced he needed to be made in order to educate supporters, phones aloft, harangued a was ending the program,6 but DACA re- Latinos on the free-market, limited- formerly undocumented woman in the mains active under several court orders, government agenda.”10 entryway, pelting her with questions with the Supreme Court ultimately ex- With a permanent staff of around 60 whose answers they weren’t interested pected to decide its fate.7 in 11 states—including swing states in hearing. On the patio outside, the trio “If Congress does not enact a balanced, with large Latinx populations like Ari- accosted other audience members with bipartisan solution that protects Dream- zona, Colorado, Florida, Nevada, and argumentative questions, with the ring- ers and enhances border security, tre- New Mexico—and an annual budget of leader shouting at a woman who’d told mendous uncertainty is just around the around $10 million, LIBRE is a regular them her husband had been deported for corner,” said Garza in a statement after presence at Latinx community and cul- smoking marijuana. “Fucking stupid!” the Capitol Hill event. “Congress is em- tural events across the country, erecting she screamed before slinking away. powered to make and reform our immi- booths at Cinco de Mayo festivals and for gration laws. This is the time to do so.”8 César Chavez Day.11 The group gives away A KOCH IN PROGRESSIVE CLOTHING But the idea behind LIBRE is bigger. turkeys at Thanksgiving and school sup- To the casual observer—indeed, even At events like the one in Tempe, LIBRE’s plies in August. It provides free English- to the hecklers who’d come to disrupt the Carlos Alfaro may express sympathy for language instruction as well as citizen- pro-immigration forum—LIBRE may ap- undocumented youth and urge reform. ship, GED, and driver’s license courses. pear indistinguishable from progressive But ultimately, the organization he rep- It offers seminars for aspiring business groups advocating for immigration re- resents is less aligned politically with the owners and conducted tax workshops form. The group’s president, Daniel Gar- Dreamer he shared the stage with than after the Republican tax cut earlier this za, has criticized Trump in the press for the racists in the third row. year. his rhetoric about Mexican immigrants, Backed by the billionaire brothers LIBRE also seeks to bring its message to the president’s failure to support DACA, Charles and David Koch—who have con- communities of faith. The organization’s and most recently, the administration’s tributed more than $15.8 million to the director of faith initiatives, John Mendez, “zero-tolerance” enforcement policy that organization through umbrella group was previously vice president of the Na- separated approximately 2,600 parents Freedom Partners Action Fund9—LIBRE’s tional Association of Evangelicals.12 In from their children at the border.2 Garza overarching goal is twofold: to convince talks before religious congregations and and leaders from LIBRE’s state branches Latinxs that laissez-faire capitalism will right-wing religious groups like the Fam- publicly urge Congress to extend citizen- empower them and to draw the “sleeping ily Research Council, Mendez preaches ship to Dreamers. The group ran an ad giant” of American electoral politics— that conservative economics have a bib- campaign titled “We Are Patriots,” assur- Latinx voters, who compose an increas- lical basis, echoing the “Gospel of Pros- ing viewers that Dreamers are Americans ing share of the electorate—to the Right. perity” rhetoric that has become popular who “work hard, put food on the table, The infrastructure of their group com- among some conservative evangelicals. care for our families, and…pledge alle- prises an advocacy arm, the LIBRE Initia- “The Hispanic pastor will teach his giance to [the] flag.”3 tive—a 501(c)(4) nonprofit, which under congregants on the prosperity of God, but won’t necessarily teach them on how to manage, LIBRE’s overarching goal is twofold: to convince Latinxs that maintain, uphold that pros- laissez-faire capitalism will empower them and to draw the perity,” Mendez said in an “sleeping giant” of American electoral politics to the Right. interview with the Pacific Justice Institute, a right-wing religious organization. “We The Arizona forum was among half a Citizens United can engage in political come in and inform them and teach them dozen events LIBRE hosted in late July, activity and raise unlimited amounts of on those principles of economic freedom including one on Capitol Hill, advocat- money without disclosing individual and free enterprise from not only a con- ing for immigration reform after Repub- donors—and an educational arm, the stitutional perspective, but also a biblical licans in the House of Representatives LIBRE Institute, which conducts commu- perspective.”13 failed to pass an overhaul that included nity outreach. According to tax filings, in But LIBRE has faced withering criti- cuts to legal immigration, increased 2016 the groups had a combined income cism from Democratic politicians and funding for border security, and a path to of $13.5 million. Latinx advocacy groups for supporting citizenship for Dreamers.4 An Obama-era “More [Latinos] self-identify as politicians and policies that progres- initiative, the Deferred Action for Child- conservatives than liberal or moderate,” sives say hurt the Latinx community. hood Arrivals (DACA) program currently Garza told me. “What happened in the The group opposed the Affordable Care shields 690,000 of the country’s estimat- past is that those on the free-market Act, which decreased the percentage of ed 3.6 million Dreamers from deporta- government side…failed in the past uninsured working-age Latinxs by 18 tion.5 Shortly after taking office in 2017, to make the kind of investments that percent;14 supports school vouchers that

14 • The Public Eye FALL 2018 fuel White flight from public schools, SELLING LIBERTARIANISM TO LATINXS that the Republicans who typically es- leaving poorer Latinxs behind; and op- Daniel Garza openly acknowledges pouse libertarian positions are also the poses raising the minimum wage. LIBRE LIBRE’s connection to the Koch ones who decry “anchor babies.” has campaigned for “right to work” laws brothers, though the organization’s “A lot of low-education voters, espe- that defund unions and voter-ID laws representatives often note that the Kochs cially low-information, never heard of that disenfranchise poor minorities. are among “hundreds” of donors to the LIBRE. In a new place, this organization Garza readily acknowledges that organization. comes along to give them training on LIBRE’s advocacy on immigration “I am proud to associate with Charles how to open a business,” says Jorge Silva falls second to its free-market and David [Koch],” Garza told me. While of the Latino Victory Project, who says he fundamentalism. Noting that many David Koch has largely stopped his con- had a “front-row view” of the group’s tac- Latinxs “are certainly not one-issue servative advocacy due to health prob- tics in Nevada when he worked for Sen. voters” even on immigration, Garza lems, Garza praised Charles’ “amazing” Harry Reid. (Silva was also Hillary Clin- says the group will advocate against contributions to “the freedom move- ton’s national director for Hispanic media other Latinxs who “would expand the ment.”17 in 2016.19) “The main point of the LIBRE growth and size of government, who Latinx advocates and academics refer organization is an effort to deceive Lati- would restrict educational choice, who to Garza as a “true believer”: an earnest nos into supporting the politicians that would increase the burden of taxes and libertarian who believes that, absent are working against Latino families.”20 regulation…and just take over the role of government intervention, “the market” LIBRE is targeting not only misin- the market, the church, and so on.” regulates itself as a perfect meritocracy. formed voters, but also youth who are “While we may disagree with a candi- In this utopia, LIBRE imagines a poor im- “hungry to be involved in whatever way date on immigration,” Garza says, “we’ll migrant family can take a $5,000 school they can,” says Reynaldo Benitez, special vote for the candidate based on that voucher and pay tuition at a $25,000-a- advisor for the office of Senator Cortez person’s position on taxes, regulations, year private high school; that the for- Masto.21 healthcare, and education.”15 profit health-care industry will work in LIBRE supports immigration reform to Democratic Senator Catherine Cortez the interest of the public good; and that the extent that doing so coheres with the Masto of Nevada, a supporter of immi- corporations will use their increased libertarian belief that borders should be gration reform and now the first Latina earnings to give the average American open and labor should flow freely across in the Senate, is one of the politicians worker a raise. Implicit in libertarianism them. The group initially opposed DACA whose candidacy LIBRE opposed. In is the idea that billionaires like the Kochs when President Barack Obama proposed 2016, the group ran ads attacking her for are beneficent and don’t rig the game. it, objecting to it as an instance of execu- opposing a school voucher program in “Libertarianism is designed to ignore tive overreach.22 The organization is now the state. Garza echoed that criticism in social reality,” says Stephen Nuño, chair outspoken in its advocacy for Dream- a Spanish-language op-ed for Univision, of the Department of Politics and Inter- ers, but toes the Republican line when it in which he also lambasted her opposi- national Affairs at Northern Arizona Uni- comes to their parents. At the 2013 Con- tion to education savings accounts and versity. “If we can ignore these realities, servative Political Action Conference, accused her of conspiring with regula- it’s a very romantic ideology. The notion Garza said he opposed granting undocu- tors to keep Uber out of the state. “The that without government, [for] you the mented immigrants citizenship, instead fact that she is ‘Latina’ doesn’t excuse her hard worker, the smart person, the cre- endorsing a notion of “legality.”23 This for the harm she will do to her fellow La- ative entrepreneur, the sky’s the limit, would allow undocumented immigrants tinos,” Garza wrote.16 The Koch-funded plays into a lot of these American values. to remain and work in the country but Freedom Partners also spent nearly $8.4 It does play into the immigrant dream.” deny them the full benefits of citizen- million targeting Cortez Masto during It follows that, while LIBRE purports ship, including the right to vote and so- the 2016 election cycle, making it the to try to reach Latinxs across the board, cial services support—a proposal that third-most expensive race in the cycle. its outreach efforts primarily target new would confer de jure second-class status “In a career spent as a prosecutor, immigrants, whom Garza says are most on millions of people. The organization I’ve learned one thing: Always follow inclined to respond to their message. opposed Obama’s executive actions re- the money,” Cortez Masto said on the “There does in fact exist a predisposi- garding Dreamers’ parents—known as Senate floor in April 2018 (following tion for these folks who come to sacri- DAPA (Deferred Action for Parents of earlier criticism of the group from fice, to work hard, to come to America Americans and Lawful Permanent Resi- former Democratic Senate Majority because they’ve seen the promise that dents)—warning that granting protected Leader Harry Reid). “What the Koch their hard work can develop into,” Garza status to the parents of Dreamers “may Brothers and their web of dark money says.18 encourage more immigrants to enter organizations like LIBRE are really doing For LIBRE’s critics, the outreach to new or remain in the U.S. in violation of our is deceiving Latinos and supporting the arrivals to the country unfamiliar with laws.”24 very same politicians who are working U.S. politics is by design—anyone re- A spokesperson for LIBRE said that the against Latino families.” motely familiar with the system knows organization now supports an “earned”

FALL 2018 Political Research Associates • 15 pathway to citizenship, which has meant crats accountable,” says a LIBRE spokes- times and required police to racially pro- various things under different legisla- person. “We’re willing to stand with file Latinxs. (The Supreme Court ruled tive proposals but commonly entails un- those who stand right and call out those key portions of the law unconstitutional documented immigrants admitting to who stand wrong. It’s not dependent on in 2012.36) That same year, the group the crime of breaking immigration law, party.”30 also helped defeat Mark Udall in Colo- paying a fine and back taxes before being But most of LIBRE’s political advocacy rado, a Democrat and strong supporter of considered for citizenship.25 has benefitted Republicans. In 2014, the immigration reform that includes a path Despite the fact that net migration from group spent hundreds of thousands of to citizenship for the undocumented.37 Mexico fell to zero in 201226 and the fed- dollars on ads attacking four House Dem- During the 2016 election cycle, LIBRE eral government spent $22 billion on im- ocrats for supporting the Affordable Care spent $700,000 on ads to support the migration enforcement in 2018—more Act,31 which LIBRE believes “constrain[s] re-election campaign of Florida Senator than the sum total of all other federal job creation and add[s] another layer of Marco Rubio,38 a fickle supporter of im- law-enforcement agencies combined27— bureaucracy to an already bogged down migration reform. As a member of the LIBRE insists, in line with Republican system.”32 “The fact is that premiums Senate’s “Gang of Eight,” which drafted orthodoxy, that the country direly needs spiked, deductibles spiked, doctor choic- and passed a comprehensive immigra- more funding for border security. es were reduced and quality suffered” un- tion bill in the Senate in 2013, Rubio der the ACA, Garza says.33 opposed his own bill once the political A PARTISAN POWERHOUSE Three of the Democrats LIBRE target- winds shifted.39 For the 2018 election, LIBRE describes itself as “nonparti- ed—Rep. Ron Barber in Arizona, Rep. LIBRE has launched a six-figure media san.” A spokesperson noted that in ad- Pete Gallego in Texas, and Rep. Joe Garcia campaign in Arizona to support Proposi- dition to its advocacy on immigration, in Florida34—lost their re-election bids. tion 305,40 a voter referendum that would which aligns more with the Left than Rep. Ann Kirkpatrick won hers against expand school vouchers in the state. the Right, LIBRE recently criticized the Arizona State Representative Andy To- LIBRE “may believe that those policy Trump administration for imposing tar- bin, a strong supporter of Arizona’s in- positions empower Latinos, but I would iffs on steel and aluminum28 and sent famous “Papers, Please” anti-immigrant say based on our policy analysis and giv- out mailers praising Democrats for their law, SB 1070,35 which (among other en Latinos’ need to access healthcare, we work on immigration reform.29 provisions) would have mandated that tend to not agree with them on most posi- “We hold both Republicans and Demo- immigrants carry documentation at all tions,” says Clarissa Martínez-de-Castro, deputy vice president in the office of -Re search, Advocacy and Legislation at Uni- LIBRE’s angel donors, the Kochs, have funded the dosUS (formerly the National Council of La Raza).41 campaigns of some of the most anti-immigrant LIBRE’s angel donors, the Kochs, have politicians in the U.S. funded the campaigns of some of the most anti-immigrant politicians in the U.S., including Russell Pearce and Kris Kobach,42 the architects of Arizona’s SB 1070. They have backed Rep. Steve King (R-Iowa),43 who—with a few close contenders—has been perhaps the most openly racist member of the House of Representatives. King told CNN he’d “like to see an America that is just so homog- enous that we look a lot the same.”44 On Dreamers, King said that “for every one who’s a valedictorian, there’s another 100 out there who weigh 130 pounds— and they’ve got calves the size of canta- loupes because they’ve been hauling 75 pounds of marijuana across the desert.”45 The Kochs are also one of the chief back- ers of Louie Gohmert (R-TX),46 one of DA- CA’s chief antagonists in the House, and Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, another hardliner on immigration.47 Trump re- cently tasked Pompeo with investigating Charles Koch, speaking at an event in Aspen, Colorado, in 2016. Photo: Kevin Moloney/Flickr.

16 • The Public Eye FALL 2018 the “large scale killing” of White farm- The campaign, “Welcome to Florida,” cies of the Republican Party.”57 ers in South Africa—a myth commonly provides English-language instruction, espoused by White supremacists as the resume-building and mock interviews AN OBSOLETE STRATEGY? country seeks to redistribute land post- to migrants from the island in Orlando, In some ways, LIBRE feels like a throw- apartheid.48 Miami, and Tampa.53 While LIBRE Ex- back to an earlier political era. In princi- “How could you make [Latinos] believe ecutive Director David Velazquez told The ple, there is no inherent contradiction in that these people who support these anti- Weekly Standard that the primary goal supporting immigration reform and con- immigrant politicians are doing some- was not to “activate” Puerto Ricans po- servative economics. This was George W. thing great for our community?” Latino litically, the group nonetheless hopes its Bush’s “compassionate conservatism,” Victory Project’s Jorge Silva asks. “[Daniel speakers inspire them to embrace free- which drew 40 percent of the Latinx vote Garza] has a tough job—he tries to make market principles.54 in 2004.58 people forget that his money comes from In blaming both Republicans and “LIBRE is a relic of a different era of the the Kochs, from the same money that Democrats equally for the failure of im- Republican Party,” Stephen Nuño says. supported Arizona’s SB 1070.”49 migration reform, LIBRE’s critics say “Anyone who thinks that Republicans “I see LIBRE’s involvement in help- the group is misinforming and disen- care about free markets today is mistak- ing immigrants and advocating for pro- franchising Latinx voters. Republicans en. Since 9/11 and 2008, it’s become an immigrant policies as mostly tactical, have in fact been responsible for the overwhelmingly White nationalist enter- a means to an end,” says Frank Sharry, failure of immigration reform during prise.”59 founder and executive director of pro- immigrant group America’s Voice.50 What LIBRE sees as smart strategies “At the end of the day, LIBRE’s end goal is to spread for reaching Latinxs with the free-market their ideology and make people disengage from the message, others see as stealthy indoctri- nation. The group recruits high-profile political process.” members of the Latinx community— from television anchors to high-school the administrations of former President The GOP has become progressively football stars—and opens offices near George W. Bush and former President more radical on immigration since the centers of civic activity like schools. Barack Obama. In both instances, Re- Bush years, meaning LIBRE occupies With its substantial budget, LIBRE buys publicans stonewalled immigration leg- an ever-shrinking space on the political large swaths of airtime on Spanish-lan- islation that provided citizenship to the map. Only 31 percent of Latinxs voted guage radio and television, which have undocumented. When the Democrat- for John McCain in 2008,60 a number helped make it a household name among controlled Senate passed an omnibus that fell to 27 percent in 2012 for Mitt Latinxs. At its seminars on business de- immigration bill in 2013 that included Romney,61 who advocated “self-deporta- velopment and driver’s license courses, a path to citizenship, the Republican tion”—the policy of making the lives of the group invites government officials to House failed to put it up for a vote be- undocumented immigrants so unbear- offer information alongside LIBRE- rep cause it was expected to pass the full con- able that they choose to leave the country resentatives espousing free-market ide- ference.55 voluntarily—as a solution to the coun- ology, giving the group’s views a patina “At the end of the day, LIBRE’s end goal try’s immigration problem.62 After the of credibility (and potentially fusing the is to spread their ideology and make peo- 2012 election, the Republican National idea of the U.S. with conservative ideol- ple disengage from the political process,” Committee released an autopsy urging ogy in the minds of new immigrants).51 the Latino Victory Project’s Silva says. its politicians to embrace same-sex mar- “When they do these workshops or “They want to make Latinos think the po- riage, court women voters, and change trainings, they always have a member litical system doesn’t work, both parties their hardline opposition to “comprehen- of LIBRE Initiative talking about how are the same, and what Latinos need to sive immigration reform” (that is, im- we need less government,” says Silva. do is focus on local politics.”56 migration reform that includes a path to “They call them ‘small business semi- For Stephen Nuño, chair of the Depart- citizenship for the undocumented). nars,’ where they do provide information ment of Politics and International Affairs “Among the steps Republicans take in but also always have a member of LIBRE at Northern Arizona University, LIBRE the Hispanic community and beyond, talking about need for reducing regula- serves yet another purpose in the over- we must embrace and champion com- tions… LIBRE takes advantage of people arching political landscape. prehensive immigration reform,” read who are there for something they need, “If you’re a moderate Republican you the report from the Republican National then go ahead and indoctrinate them.”52 can look at LIBRE and say, ‘See we’re go- Committee’s Growth and Opportunity This year, LIBRE launched a $100,000 ing after Latinos; we’re not racist,’” he Project.63 “If we do not, our Party’s appeal campaign aimed at approximately says. “Republican outreach to Latinos will continue to shrink to its core constit- 50,000 Puerto Ricans fleeing destruc- has less to do with Latinos than with giv- uencies only.” tion from Hurricane Maria in Florida. ing White voters cover for the racist poli- Over the next six years, the GOP did

FALL 2018 Political Research Associates • 17 precisely the opposite. Now, with Presi- generation Latinx immigrants, 81 per- their attack ads in Texas, Arizona, and dent Donald Trump, an immigration cent of whom share this view.68 Florida, the group was successful in help- hardliner, leading the GOP, most of the “There have been attempts to catego- ing to oust three Democrats over the Af- politicians who share LIBRE’s views on rize Latinos in simplistic fashion on both fordable Care Act. economics oppose immigration reform. sides,” Martínez-de-Castro says. “It’s not But the organization’s ability to signifi- Garza is right that more Latinxs describe a monolith, but through polling you see cantly shift Latinxs’ political alignment themselves as conservative than liberal that on one hand Latinos believe you is imperiled every time President Donald (32 percent versus 28 percent), but the need to work hard and believe in self- Trump leads attendees at a rally to chant, largest share (36 percent) describes them- reliance. But they also believe that we “Build the wall.” Or, as Silva put it, “I selves as “moderate.” Around 65 percent should invest more in public education wonder how Puerto Ricans are going to of registered Latinx voters now identify or in quality education, access to health- feel when they say it’s good the govern- with or lean toward the Democratic Par- care, are willing more to pay in taxes to ment doesn’t spend more money given ty, and the percentage of Latinxs who say see those things happen.”69 how little it spent in the recovery efforts Democrats have more concern for them LIBRE’s message will inevitably res- for Hurricane Maria.”72 than Republicans has jumped 11 percent onate with the third of Latinxs who The GOP may someday return to “com- since 2004.64 naturally skew conservative, as well as passionate conservatism,” but the trend Garza noted that Trump outperformed Cubans, who have historically aligned line over the last 15 years has been mov- Romney in the 2016 presidential elec- with Republicans.70 But it is difficult to ing the party toward ever more draconian tion, garnering 29 percent of Latinxs’ imagine the group can grow the number immigration policies. And even if Repub- votes.65 “Democratic outreach efforts of free-market Latinx libertarians in the licans heed their advice, and soften their focused on insulting candidate Trump’s country with Trump in the White House stance on immigration, the damage done supporters—they really failed to drive a and other immigration hardliners at the to the party’s brand among this demo- persuasive message and didn’t focus on fore of the GOP. graphic will continue to make recruiting opportunity and jobs,” he says. “[Trump] “Their market share is going to be lim- efforts difficult. But until that happens, was the one making promises to increase ited by the fact that they are ultimately LIBRE will remain a cause without a par- jobs, wages and economic growth. The dependent on one funding source and re- ty. number one priority for Latinos, in poll stricted by an ideology that doesn’t have If anything, LIBRE’s outreach efforts after poll, is jobs and the economy.”66 a lot of purchase on a community that highlight how little Democrats have in- Garza is right here, too: Polls show that needs a strong government to get ahead,” vested in courting Latinxs, who vote Latinxs list jobs and the economy atop says Sharry of America’s Voice. “LIBRE is at significantly lower rates than other immigration as political concerns.67 But not an organic community push for lib- groups.73 Come election time, news sto- immigration is nonetheless dispositive ertarian ideas. It’s a top-down, well-fund- ries tease readers with headlines declar- for Latinxs. Most Latinxs in the U.S. are ed, sophisticated political operation.”71 ing that the “sleeping giant” of American citizens who were born here, but many That raises the question of what pur- politics may finally wake up, but as long have extended family members, or com- pose LIBRE ultimately serves in the po- as both parties make little concerted ef- munity connections, who are undocu- litical ecosystem. It is difficult to fault the fort to woo Latinxs, they will remain mented. Politicians’ views on immigra- organization for the social services it pro- somnolent. tion serve as a touchstone for how they vides. LIBRE could be more transparent “If you look at Latino voters, they report view Latinxs more generally. One might in disclosing its connection to the Koch that they receive very little outreach from expect Latinxs to have punished Trump brothers, but like many other nonprof- [both] parties and candidates,” Martínez- more severely for his rhetoric about His- its in the post Citizens United era, there is de-Castro says. “If LIBRE being on the panics, but outperforming Romney by little incentive to disclose more than the ground gets Democrats to start working a two points doesn’t suggest a fundamen- law requires. What’s more, after seven little harder—to not take these voters for tal shift in how Latinxs view the Repub- years of operation, the group’s Koch ties granted—that’s a good thing.”74 lican Party. have been dissected in story after story Gabriel Arana is a contributing editor at More to the point, Latinxs on the whole in the media—a simple Google search The American Prospect and a contribut- support government intervention in soci- shows the group’s extensive connection ing writer at Salon. His work has appeared ety at higher rates than the general popu- to the conservative mega-donors. in publications including The New York lation. According to the nonpartisan Pew LIBRE’s most nefarious influence on Times, The Huffington Post, Mic, Salon, Research Center, 75 percent of Latinxs the political system may be in its ability The Nation, The American Prospect, and say they would “rather have a bigger gov- to pour Koch money into close elections The New Republic. ernment which provides more services in districts with large Latinx popula- than a smaller government which pro- tions. On television and on the radio, vides fewer,” compared with 41 percent LIBRE does not disclose its Koch connec- of the public at large. Support for larger tions—voters hear the group’s message government is strongest among first- without knowing the source. And with

18 • The Public Eye FALL 2018 BY MELISSA MAYER

Bringing Bad Sex Ed Back Trump’s Rebranding of Abstinence-Only

shocking thing happened at gressive and regressive. It caused other ing from the Maternal and Child Health a closed-door United Nations stakeholders, such as Sanam Amin, a pro- (MCH) Bureau to the Administration meeting in March, during gram officer with the Asia Pacific Forum for Children and Families (ACF). Bush the annual meeting of the UN on Women, to question their continued would also more than double overall ACommission on the Status of Women participation in the CSW, which focuses spending on abstinence-only education (CSW). In a private session intended to on addressing barriers for the world’s from $60 million in 2000 to an all-time set language for gender equality policies most vulnerable women.4 It wasn’t just high of $177 million in 2008. Under this and to brief non-governmental organi- talk of regressive policy changes; the more conservative management, ACF zations on U.S. priorities for women’s U.S. delegation also extended official hardened funding guidelines. Where issues, a senior advisor from the U.S. invitations to two right-wing organiza- MCH grant recipients had merely been Agency for International Development tions, the Heritage Foundation and the prohibited from contradicting Title V’s (USAID), Bethany Kozma, who gained Center for Family and Human Rights eight-point definition of abstinence- notoriety for her transphobic stance on (C-Fam),5 meaning both could attend re- only programming, ACF grantees had bathroom policies, declared the United stricted CSW sessions off-limits to most to address each of the eight points with States a “pro-life” nation. other nongovernmental organizations. equal weight. ACF also expanded its tar- The pronouncement jolted the room One delegate, Rashima Kwatra, commu- get population to include all Americans like a “record scratch,” one UN official nications officer for OutRight Action -In younger than 30. By 2006, organizations later said.1 At subsequent sessions over ternational, expressed concern that this receiving ACF grants were specifically the two-week gathering, other Trump signaled an effort to enshrine discrimi- prohibited from providing clients with officials, including the senior policy -ad nation as entities pushing for “religious information about safer sex (even with visor for the U.S. Department of Health freedom” co-opted CSW’s message.6 separate funding), and the concept of ab- and Human Services (HHS), Valerie Hu- stinence had grown to include any sexual ber, reiterated the point. Huber, who A GRIM HISTORY contact between unmarried people. once headed a national abstinence-only Between 1982 and 2010, the govern- Despite this massive investment, the advocacy organization,2 used the term ment poured approximately $1.6 billion reality that abstinence-only programs “pro-life” while demanding the removal into abstinence-only initiatives. Each don’t work was becoming obvious. They of key terms such as “modern contracep- benchmark (notably the Title V Absti- consistently failed to delay sexual behav- tion,” “emergency contraception,” and nence Only Until Marriage component ior, prevent teen pregnancy, or protect “unsafe abortion” from outcome docu- of the 1996 welfare reform law, and Con- against sexually transmitted infections. ments focused on gender equality.3 gress’s funding of Community-Based Ab- They also offered patently false or - mis But the declaration encompassed more stinence Education in 2001) represented leading information about reproductive than just abortion. In both cases, the an increase in expenditure and an uptick health; relied on fear- and shame-based U.S. representatives pushed a far-right in governmental control, as lawmakers methodologies and biased curriculum agenda not just on abortion but on sex and proponents sought to define and en- materials that promoted gender stereo- education and contraception, seeking to shrine traditional family values through types and excluded sexual minorities; scrub from the meeting’s outcome docu- increasingly strict requirements for grant contained thinly veiled efforts to -en ments any mention of sexuality. It was a recipients. During that time, the govern- shrine religious values as universal stan- stunning revelation that the Trump ad- ment’s position morphed from a general dards; and lacked any federal oversight ministration’s “pro-life” agenda isn’t just call in the 1981 Adolescent Family Life to ensure basic scientific accuracy. targeting abortion access but sex educa- Act (AFLA) to encourage “chastity and By 2008, 16 separate reviews detailed tion as well. self-discipline” to a full-blown doctrine these concerns, including assessments One meeting attendee, Shannon Kow- enshrining monogamous heterosexual authored by the minority leader of the alski, director of advocacy and policy at marriage as the sexual norm. House Committee on Government Re- the International Women’s Health Coali- By 2004, the George W. Bush admin- form, the Government Accountability Of- tion, called the move simultaneously ag- istration shifted abstinence-only fund- fice, an investigative firm hired by HHS,

FALL 2018 Political Research Associates • 19 as well as 13 state inquiries. Congress tures to $85 million dollars in 2016 and lifestyle free from all sexual risk.”19 SRA convened a hearing on abstinence-only $90 million dollars in 2017, and install- proponents even push for “cessation initiatives the same year and declared ing abstinence-only advocates, mostly intervention support” for sexually active the programs ineffective and objectively conservative evangelicals, into key po- adolescents.20 harmful. By this point, almost half of all sitions in government, such as HHS’s Therein lies the most insidious re- states were refusing federal funds tied Valerie Huber, one of the delegates who branding of abstinence-only. Epidemiol- to abstinence-only, and the initiatives insisted that the U.S. is now “pro-life” at ogists use the term “risk reduction” when seemed destined for the dustbin of his- the UN. exploring outcomes. As a risk reduction tory.7 Huber is also the co-founder of her own program, comprehensive sex education To settle any lingering public debate, abstinence-only organization, Ascend, is geared toward minimizing absolute researchers combed through decades of which she started after she was found health risks associated with teen sex: data, comparing abstinence-only out- guilty of an ethics violation and sus- teen pregnancy and the transmission of comes with those of an evidence-based pended from directing Ohio’s abstinence sexually transmitted infections. How- comprehensive sex education program education program.12 Through Ascend, ever, SRA proponents insist that com- endorsed by the National Institutes of she’s argued that comprehensive sexual prehensive sex education does not re- Health. They found that the lowest teen- education constitutes a greater pressure ally reduce harm and should not even be age pregnancy and birth rates occurred on adolescents to have sex13 than they considered a risk reduction program— in states offering comprehensive sex ed- face from their own dating partners.14 even if outcomes show an all-time low ucation while the highest were in states (To back this up, Huber cites a study for teen pregnancy rates21—because, for that emphasized abstinence-only. The compiled for Ascend by an evangelical abstinence-only advocates, the goal is research team also reported clear socio- Christian polling firm that self-describes not to reduce the risks associated with economic and racial disparities associat- as providing insight to “spiritual influ- teen sex but to recast all premarital sex as ed with abstinence-only, as richer, Whit- encers.”15) Ascend has also taken aim at inherently unhealthy and destructive to er states emphasized abstinence less and, the methodology of research supporting society. According to SRA, any outcome unsurprisingly, experienced fewer teen comprehensive sex education,16 arguing, other than complete abstinence is a fail- pregnancies and births.8 for example, that researchers measuring ure, and all studies demonstrating the When it comes to sex education, all overall condom usage ”did not measure efficacy of comprehensive sex education the major players—the Centers for Dis- consistent, correct use”—a long-time are inherently flawed, since the only ac- ease Control and Prevention (CDC), the critique by abstinence-only advocates ceptable standard for success is total ces- National Institutes of Health, the Ameri- that conflicts with their insistence that sation of all premarital sex. can Academy of Pediatrics, the Ameri- instructing students in correct condom That much is demonstrated by an in- can Medical Association, the Society for usage is “explicit content” that provokes fographic published by Ascend, taking Adolescent Health Medicine, the Ameri- students to become sexually active.17 specific aim at the evidence-based com- can Public Health Association, and the But after years of studies demonstrat- prehensive sex education program Teen American Psychological Association— ing the failures of abstinence-only, both Pregnancy Prevention (TPP, the curricu- have taken positions against abstinence- organizations like Ascend and the Trump lum endorsed by the National Institutes only,9 recognizing that it’s bad science administration itself have rebranded of Health), claiming the program in- and a violation of adolescents’ human their work, as Sexual Risk Avoidance creases oral sex among teens.22 Ascend’s rights.10 (SRA).18 infographic also makes the demonstrably Still, abstinence proponents—over- Sexual Risk Avoidance proponents have false claim that TPP increases teen preg- whelmingly conservative Christians— sought to recast abstinence-only’s image nancy, but its focus on oral sex is reveal- pushed forward, insisting that their ap- by poaching scientific language, using ing: an admission that their aim is not to proach “follows God’s plan for sexuality terms like “risk avoidance,” “evidence- reduce teen pregnancy but to mandate and reflects a biblical vision of marriage based,” and “medically accurate”— one specific sexual morality. and family.”11 language that lends the program a Now, under Trump, that perspective is veneer of public health legitimacy policy. Huber’s HHS has adopted SRA, as REBRANDING ABSTINENCE-ONLY in ways that “abstinence” could not. well as its stated goal: to normalize “the The Obama administration decisively Much of this language appears modeled optimal health behavior of avoiding non- shifted away from abstinence-only to on public health initiatives aimed marital sexual activity” altogether.23 comprehensive sex education, cutting at decreasing objectively dangerous Despite the façade that SRA is a new funding from $177 million to $50 mil- behaviors. Ascend, for example, directly public health program, the vast major- lion and eliminating two major funding compares its approach to risk reduction ity of the studies cited by Ascend’s trea- streams (AFLA and CBAE). Immediately strategies aimed at preventing underage tise on SRA—23 of 25—are pulled from upon Trump’s taking office, his adminis- drinking, illegal drug use, smoking, the previous era of abstinence-only. Ad- tration reversed course again, increasing and violence, insisting that the goal is to ditionally, a third of the studies—eight annual federal abstinence-only expendi- return sexually active youth to a “healthy of 25—were authored by a single social

20 • The Public Eye FALL 2018 psychologist, Stan Weed, whose Insti- that even the phrase “sexual and repro- and innovative strategies to prevent teen tute for Research and Evaluation exclu- ductive health” was open to interpreta- pregnancy…by focusing on protective sively focuses on abstinence-only and tion, leaving participants speculating factors,” including those set forth by the character education materials. Weed’s about the implications for U.S. funding SRA tool.35 reemergence as an SRA expert is par- for international family planning, tradi- There’s additional cause for concern ticularly notable; his testimony before tionally managed through USAID.28 regarding the role abstinence-only edu- Congress during the 2008 hearings that There is certainly domestic precedent cation may play in what international re- ultimately found abstinence-only inef- for defunding alternatives to abstinence- productive health programs Trump does fective and harmful represented a public only education. Shortly after Valerie Hu- fund. Legal Momentum and the Harvard low point for abstinence-only. In videos ber’s appointment to HHS, that agency School of Public Health describes how of the hearings, Weed argues vocifer- slashed federal funding for the Teen the earliest iteration of Bush’s HIV/AIDS ously with a Republican congressman Pregnancy Prevention (TPP) program program, the President’s Emergency Plan about the benefits of withholding sexual that Ascend had long denounced, and for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR), had, as a global health information from young people— ended grants awarded to Planned Par- abstinence-only mandate, “deprive[d] while seated near a young adult who had enthood and 81 other organizations two women and girls of prevention strategies just finished testifying that he contracted years early. In a March 2017 op-ed for that are, literally, lifesaving.”36 During HIV as an outcome of withheld informa- The Hill, Huber declared TPP ineffective, the Obama administration, PEPFAR’s tion.24 Weed’s support staff at the -hear despite the Journal of Adolescent Health abstinence-only requirements were re- ing? None other than Valerie Huber. and the CDC both reporting an all-time laxed, and the program has grown to The alternative is to view sex education low for teen pregnancy in 2016, which be considered a public health success.37 through the same lens used by devel- medical experts such as the American However, after the Trump administra- oped countries with substantially lower Congress of Obstetricians and Gynecolo- tion unsuccessfully proposed eliminat- rates for teen pregnancy. That is, “based gists attribute to TPP.29 The piece appears ing PEPFAR funding for 2018, it pro- on the WHO definition of sexuality as a to be backed by research, but many of posed extending the Global Gag Rule to lifelong process, aiming to create self-de- the hyperlinked sources lead nowhere cover PEPFAR for the first time.38 termined and responsible attitudes and or don’t reflect the text they are meant In a political climate marked by near- behavior with regard to sexuality, con- to support.30 In one instance, Huber in- constant human rights violations, the traception, relationships and life strate- sists that youth who receive training to resurrection of abstinence-only pro- gies and planning.”25 But for SRA propo- avoid sex are more likely to use condoms grams under the guise of “risk avoidance” nents, this amounts to being “pro teen than students who receive comprehen- occurs amid growing outrage fatigue. sex.”26 sive sex education, yet the study she cites This is a dangerous perfect storm, given concludes with a recommendation for the domestic implications, especially for FAR-REACHING IMPLICATIONS comprehensive sex education.31 A fed- vulnerable students, and the potential Back at the UN in March, the U.S. dele- eral judge blocked HHS’s effort to defund global reach of the policy. gation’s “pro-life” declaration and subse- Planned Parenthood’s TPP program in Melissa Mayer is a freelance writer who fre- quent push to eliminate any mention of April, stating the potential for substan- quently covers sexual violence, including a 32 phrases such as “modern contraceptives” tial harm from cutting the grants. guide for adolescents coping with acquain- from outcome documents set the U.S. at After losing five such federal lawsuits tance rape. odds with the UN Commission on the Sta- brought by defunded grantees,33 HHS tus of Women working group, including resumed TPP funding but seems to have representatives from nations traditional- adjusted its course to sidestep judicial ly far to the Right of U.S. policy on gender oversight. Now, instead of eliminating equality, such as China, Egypt, Iran, and TPP, current HHS funding guidelines for DisHonorRoll is made possible through a Russia.27 It also sparked concerns about the program include options to allocate grant from the Media Consortium. the broader implications of the United TPP money for SRA programs.34 In the States’ new political orientation. first funding tier, prospective grantees One delegate told BuzzFeed the mem- can apply for a total of $61 million ear- bers came together and “stared down” the marked for TPP but they are permitted U.S., optimistically claiming they suc- to use an SRA assessment tool developed ceeded in thwarting the extreme agenda. by an abstinence-only organization, the Yet the final draft of the document was Center for Relationship Education, for reduced to weak references to “sexual curriculum selection, essentially provid- and reproductive health,” stripped of ing a means to funnel TPP funds to SRA any mention of sex education, contra- programs. The second tier enables public ception, or abortion. A U.S. statement and private entities to access $22 million released after the negotiations clarified of TPP funds to develop and test “new

FALL 2018 Political Research Associates • 21 endnotes

A Classicist’s Guide to Misappropriated kins-platform-724219459556?playlist=associated. 1981 Interview on the Southern Strategy,” YouTube 13. Eric Scorsone, “Frequently Asked Questions History, p. 3 16. Edward Isaac-Dovere, “Tony Perkins: Trump gets video, 1:39, November 13, 2012, https://www.you- About the new Michigan Local Financial Emergency ‘a Mulligan’ on Life, Stormy Daniels,” Politico, Janu- tube.com/watch?v=X_8E3EnrKrQ. Law, Michigan State University Extension, January 1. Frank Bruni, “Aristotle’s Wrongful Death,” The ary 23, 2018, https://www.politico.com/magazine/ 43. James Boyd, “Nixon’s Southern Strategy,” The 2013, http://msue.anr.msu.edu/uploads/236/25914/ New York Times, May 26, 2018, https://www.nytimes. story/2018/01/23/tony-perkins-evangelicals-donald- New York Times, May 17, 1970, https://www.nytimes. FAQ-WhyNewLawWasPassed.pdf. com/2018/05/26/opinion/sunday/college-majors- trump-stormy-daniels-216498. com/1970/05/17/archives/nixons-southern-strate- 14. Center for Local Government Finance and Policy, liberal-arts.html. 17. Jeremy W. Peters, “Trump Keeps His Conservative gy-its-all-in-the-charts.html. “A Review of Michigan’s Local Financial Emergency 2. Ben Davis, “The New White Nationalism’s Sloppy Movement Allies Close,” The New York Times, August 44. Peoplefor, “Paul Weyrich: ‘I don’t want ev- Law,” Michigan State University Extension, April 21, Use of Art History, Decoded,” Artnet News, March 7, 2, 2017, https://www.nytimes.com/2017/08/02/us/ eryone to vote,’ (Goo Goo),” YouTube video, 2017, http://www.canr.msu.edu/uploads/resources/ 2017, https://news.artnet.com/art-world/identity- politics/trump-conservative-republicans.html. 0:40, June 8, 2007, https://www.youtube.com/ pdfs/michigan_em_law_review.pdf. evropa-posters-art-symbolism-881747. 18. “Dr Richard Land, Wesley Smith, Drew Johnson, watch?v=8GBAsFwPglw. 15. Kristin Longley, “Dayne Walling re-elected mayor 3. Sarah E. Bond, “We Need to Start Seeing the Clas- Roy Beck,” Washington Watch, American Family Radio, 45. Noah Latsky, “The Trump effect: New study con- as state declares financial emergency in Flint,” MLive, sical World in Color,” Hyperallergic, June 7, 2017, August 4, 2017, https://afr.net/podcasts/washington- nects white American intolerance and support for November 9, 2011, https://www.mlive.com/news/ https://hyperallergic.com/383776/why-we-need-to- watch/2017/august/dr-richard-land-wesley-smith- authoritarianism,” NBC News, May 27, 2018, https:// flint/index.ssf/2011/11/dayne_walling_re-elected_ start-seeing-the-classical-world-in-color/. drew-johnson-roy-beck/. www.nbcnews.com/think/opinion/trump-effect- as_st.html. Also see: Center for Local Government 4. Jip Lemmens, “Putting the ‘Neon’ in ‘Neo-Nazi,’” 19. “About USCIRF,” USCIRF, http://www.uscirf.gov/ new-study-connects-white-american-intolerance- Finance and Policy, “A Review of Michigan’s Local Fi- Eidolon, October 19, 2017, https://eidolon.pub/put- about-uscirf. support-authoritarianism-ncna877886. nancial Emergency Law.” ting-the-neon-in-neo-nazi-4cea7c471a66. 20. Michelle Boorstein, “Agency that Monitors Reli- 46. Kristen Clarke, “Stop perpetuating the Myth 16. House Bill No. 4214, State of Michigan, March 5. Donna Zuckerberg, “Bang Rome,” Eidolon, De- gious Freedom Abroad Accused of Bias,” The Wash- of Voter Fraud to Distract from the Reality of Voter 16, 2011, https://www.legislature.mi.gov/docu- cember 21, 2015, https://eidolon.pub/bang-rome- ington Post, February 17, 2010, http://www.washing- Suppression,” Huffington Post, November 28, 2017, ments/2011-2012/publicact/htm/2011-PA-0004. 2214f4a3d5c5. tonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/02/16/ https://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/stop-perpet- htm. 6. Claire Landsbaum, “Mens Rights Activists Are AR2010021605517.html. uating-myth-of_b_13273788.html. 17. Rick Pluta, “Michigan’s governor signs revised Finding a New Home With the Alt-Right,” The Cut, De- 21. Tara Isabella Burton, “Jeff Sessions Announces 47. David Brody, “Donald Trump Tells the Brody File: emergency manager law,” Michigan Radio, Decem- cember 14, 2016, https://www.thecut.com/2016/12/ a Religious Liberty Task Force to Combat ‘Dangerous’ We Christians Must ‘Stick Together,” CBN News, Janu- ber 27, 2012, http://www.michiganradio.org/post/ mens-rights-activists-are-flocking-to-the-alt-right. Secularism,” Vox, July 31, 2018, https://www.vox. ary 19, 2016, http://blogs.cbn.com/thebrodyfile/ michigans-governor-signs-revised-emergency-man- html. com/identities/2018/7/31/17631110/jeff-sessions- archive/2016/01/19/donald-trump-tells-the-brody- ager-law. 7. For example, see: Robert Conti, “6 Powerful Pas- religious-liberty-task-force-memo-christian-national- file-we-christians-must-stick.aspx. 18. Monica Davey, “Michigan Naming Fiscal Manager sages From Meditations By Marcus Aurelius,” The ism. 48. Charity R. Carney, “End Times, The Prosper- to Help Detroit,” The New York Times, March 2, 2013, Return of Kings, January 29, 2014, http://www.re- 22. Frederick Clarkson, “Religious Liberty is a ity Gospel, and Trump,” Huffington Post, August 16, https://www.nytimes.com/2013/03/02/us/michigan- turnofkings.com/27793/6-powerful-passages-from- Progressive Value,” Political Research Associates, 2016, https://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/end- appoints-emergency-manager-for-detroit.html. meditations-by-marcus-aurelius. January 3, 2017, https://www.politicalresearch. times-the-prosperity-_b_11531188.html. 19. Dayne Walling, interview with author, June 22, 8. “Resources for Teaching Race and Ethnicity, Immi- org/2017/01/03/religious-freedom-is-a-progressive- 49. “Remarks by President Trump at the 2017 Values 2017. gration and Marginality in Classical Antiquity,” Clas- value/. Voter Summit,” The White House, October 13, 2017, 20. “Not Safe to Drink,” Michigan Radio, http://www. sics at the Intersection, https://rfkclassics.blogspot. 23. Gary L Bauer (@GaryLBauer) “Pres. Trump has ap- https://www.whitehouse.gov/briefings-statements/ michiganradio.org/topic/not-safe-drink. com/p/teaching-race-and-ethnicity.html. pointed me to the US Commission on International Re- remarks-president-trump-2017-values-voter-sum- 21. Kayla Ruble, Jacob Carah, Abby Ellis, and Sarah 9. Mary Beard, “Roman Britain in Black and White,” ligious Freedom! I am honored and humbled. My focus mit/. Childress, “Flint Water Crisis Deaths Likely Surpass Of- TLS, August 3, 2017, https://www.the-tls.co.uk/ will be on the growing persecution of Christians and 50. Tony Perkins, “Trump is a Great Champion of ficial Toll,” Frontline, July 24, 2018, https://www.pbs. roman-britain-black-white/. the rising tide of anti Semitic hatred around the world. Religious Liberty—a Welcome Change from Obama,” org/wgbh/frontline/article/flint-water-crisis-deaths- 10. “Archive for Black Achilles,” Pharos, https://pag- Muslim majority nations are biggest culprits,” Twitter, Fox News, October 21, 2017, http://www.foxnews. likely-surpass-official-toll/. es.vassar.edu/pharos/black-achilles/. May 31, 2018, https://twitter.com/GaryLBauer/sta- com/opinion/2017/10/21/trump-is-great-champion- 22. John Wisely, “Flint residents paid America’s high- 11. Josephine Livingstone, “Rod Dreher’s Bad His- tus/1002246729234894848. religious-liberty-welcome-change-from-obama.html. est water rates,” Detroit Free Press, February 16, 2016, tory,” The New Republic, July 3, 2018, https://newre- 24. Tony Perkins, “Preying Silently: The Crisis 51. Sarah Posner, “How Donald Trump’s New Cam- https://www.freep.com/story/news/local/michigan/ public.com/article/149527/rod-drehers-bad-history. of Christian Persecution,” Family Research Coun- paign Chief Created an Online Haven for White Na- flint-water-crisis/2016/02/16/study-flint-paid-high- 12. Dan-el Padilla Peralta, “Barbarians Inside the Gate, cil, April 21, 2017, https://www.frc.org/get. tionalists,” Mother Jones, August 22, 2016, https:// est-rate-us-water/80461288/. Also see: Ron Fonger, Part 1,” Eidolon, November 9, 2015, https://eidolon. cfm?i=WA17D38&f=WU17D13. www.motherjones.com/politics/2016/08/stephen- “Flint residents get a chance to speak; blast water rates pub/barbarians-inside-the-gate-part-i-c175057b340f. 25. Peter Montgomery, “FRC’s Tony Perkins Ap- bannon-donald-trump-alt-right-breitbart-news/. and state oversight,” MLive, June 9, 2014, https:// 13. Kwame Anthony Appiah, “There is No Such Thing pointed to U.S. Commission on International Religious www.mlive.com/news/flint/index.ssf/2014/06/ as Western Civilization,” The Guardian, November 9, Freedom,” Right Wing Watch, May 15, 2018, http:// The Road to Flint, p. 11 flint_budget.html. 2016, https://www.theguardian.com/world/2016/ www.rightwingwatch.org/post/frcs-tony-perkins- Anna Clark, “Detroit’s Least Bad Option,” The 23. Ron Fonger, “Emergency manager calls City Coun- nov/09/western-civilisation-appiah-reith-lecture. 1. appointed-to-u-s-commission-on-international-reli- New Republic, March 14, 2013, https://newrepublic. cil’s Flint River vote ‘incomprehensible,’” MLive, March The New Southern Strategy, p. 5 gious-freedom/. com/article/112627/detroits-emergency-manage- 24, 2015, https://www.mlive.com/news/flint/index. 26. Tony Perkins, “How do you Solve a Problem Like ment-citys-least-bad-option. ssf/2015/03/flint_emergency_manager_calls.html. 1. Louisiana Republican Party (2016), http://www. Sharia?” Family Research Council, December 9, 2015, 2. “11,341 Rape Kits Were Collected and Forgot- 24. Ron Fonger, “Exiting Flint emergency man- p2016.org/chrnothp/lagop031416pr.html/. https://www.frc.org/washingtonupdate/20151209/ ten in Detroit. This is the Story of One of Them,” ager issues final orders on transition,” MLive, May 2. Jonathan Easley, “Evangelical Leader Endorses how-do-you. ELLE, June 23, 2016, https://www.elle.com/culture/ 6, 2015, https://www.mlive.com/news/flint/index. Trump on Last Night of Convention,” The Hill, July 27. “Religious Liberty: Believe Local, Act Global,” FRC a37255/forgotten-rape-kits-detroit/. ssf/2015/05/departing_flint_emergency_mana.html. 21, 2016, http://thehill.com/blogs/ballot-box/pres- Action, May 16, 2018, https://www.frcaction.org/get. 3. Isabel Wilkerson, The Warmth of Other Suns (New 25. Monica Davey, “Flint Will Return to Using Detroit’s idential-races/288806-evangelical-leader-endorses- cfm?i=WA18E35&f=WU18E02. York: Penguin Random House, 2011). Water After Findings of Lead in Local Supply,” The New trump-on-last-night-of. 28. Phil Gailey, “Bob Jones in Sermon Assails Su- 4. Forty-three people were killed in the Detroit York Times, October 8, 2015, https://www.nytimes. 3. Max Blumenthal, “Justice Sunday Preacher,” The preme Court,” The New York Times, May 25, 1983, uprising of July 1967. Uprisings in Watts (1965) and com/2015/10/09/us/flint-michigan-detroit-water- Nation, May 9, 2005, https://www.thenation.com/ar- https://www.nytimes.com/1983/05/25/us/bob- Newark (1967) were also especially brutal, with, supply-lead.html. ticle/justice-sunday-preachers/. jones-in-sermon-assails-supreme-court.html. respectively, 34 and 26 people killed. See: Lyndon 26. Ashley Southall, “State of Emergency Declared 4. Max Blumenthal, “Good Cop, Bad Cop,” The Na- 29. LifeSiteNews.com. “Pro-Life Leader Paul Wey- Baines Johnson, “President Johnson Address on Civil Over Man-Made Water Disaster in Michigan City,” tion, May 23, 2005, https://www.thenation.com/ar- rich Passes Away,” Catholic Online, December 19, Disorder and Kerner Commission,” C-SPAN video, July The New York Times, January 7, 2016, https://www. ticle/good-cop-bad-cop/. 2008, https://www.catholic.org/news/politics/story. 27, 1967, https://www.c-span.org/video/?431462-1/ nytimes.com/2016/01/18/us/obama-flint-michigan- 5. Evan Osnos, “Donald Trump and the Ku Klux Klan: php?id=31165. president-johnson-address-civil-disorder-kerner- water-fema-emergency-disaster.html. A History,” The Nation, February 29, 2016, https:// 30. Linda Wertheimer, “Evangelical: Religious commission, 40 and 103. See also: Rick Rojas and 27. Paul Egan, “These are the 15 people criminally www.newyorker.com/news/news-desk/donald- Right has Distorted the Faith,” NPR, June 23, Khorri Atkinson, “Five Days of Unrest That Shaped, charged in the Flint water crisis,” Detroit Free Press, trump-and-the-ku-klux-klan-a-history. 2006, https://www.npr.org/templates/story/story. and Haunted, Newark,” The New York Times, July 11, June 14, 2017, https://www.freep.com/story/news/ 6. “Mission Statement,” Family Research Council, php?storyId=5502785. 2017, https://www.nytimes.com/2017/07/11/nyre- local/michigan/flint-water-crisis/2017/06/14/flint- https://www.frc.org/mission-statement. 31. Max Blumenthal, “The Secretive Right-Wing Cabal gion/newark-riots-50-years.html. water-crisis-charges/397425001/. 7. “Washington Watch,” American Family Radio, that Met in Minneapolis to Vet Palin,” HuffPost, Octo- 5. Lyndon Baines Johnson, “President Johnson Ad- 28. Gus Burns, “Emergency managers weren’t state https://afr.net/podcasts/washington-watch/?p=2. ber 1, 2008, https://www.huffingtonpost.com/max- dress on Civil Disorder and Kerner Commission,” C- employees, lawyers argue in Flint water lawsuit,” 8. “About,” Watchmen on the Wall, http://www. blumenthal/the-secretive-right-wing_b_122881.html. SPAN video, July 27, 1967, https://www.c-span.org/ MLive, January 9, 2018, https://www.mlive.com/ watchmenpastors.org/about. 32. Heidi Beirich and Mark Potok, “The Council for video/?431462-1/president-johnson-address-civil- news/detroit/index.ssf/2018/01/flint_water_lawsuit_ 9. Laurie Goodstein, “A Line in the Sand for Same- National Policy: Behind the Curtain,” Southern Pover- disorder-kerner-commission. likely_to.html. Sex Marriage Foes,” The New York Times, October ty Law Center, May 17, 2016, https://www.splcenter. 6. The National Advisory Commission on Civil Dis- 29. Juan Cartagena, Joanna Elisa Cuevas Ingram, 26, 2008, https://www.nytimes.com/2008/10/27/ org/hatewatch/2016/05/17/council-national-policy- orders, The Kerner Report (Princeton: Princeton Uni- Brenda Wright, David Rivkin, Brief for Amici Curiae La- us/27right.html. behind-curtain. versity Press, 2016), 2, 108, 246. tino Justice PRLDF and Demos in Support of Petitioners in 10. Jared Holt, “Family Research Council Boasts of 33. Harry R. Jackson, Jr. & Tony Perkins, Personal 7. The Kerner Report, 406. Bellant v. Synder, May 10, 2017, https://www.demos. Victories in the Era of Trump,” Right Wing Watch, Oc- Faith, Public Policy (Lake Mary, FL: FrontLine, 2008), 8. Julian E. Zelizer, “Is America Repeating the Mis- org/publication/brief-amici-curiae-latinojustice-prldf- tober 18, 2017, http://www.rightwingwatch.org/post/ 10. takes of 1968?,” The Atlantic, July 8, 2016, https:// and-demos-support-petitioners-bellant-v-synder. family-research-council-boasts-of-victories-in-the-era- 34. Personal Faith, Public Policy, 138. www.theatlantic.com/politics/archive/2016/07/is- 30. Ibid. of-trump/. 35. Kyle Mantyla, “A Picture is Worth a Thousand america-repeating-the-mistakes-of-1968/490568/. 31. Michigan Civil Rights Commission Report, “The 11. George Barna, “Survey Reveals the Political Memories,” Right Wing Watch, October 9, 2009, 9. Nathan Bomey, Detroit Resurrected: To Bankruptcy Flint Water Crisis: Systemic Racism Through the Lens Analysts Who Had the Most Influence on Conserva- http://www.rightwingwatch.org/post/a-picture-is- and Back (New York: W.W. Norton & Company, Inc., of Flint,” https://www.michigan.gov/documents/ tive Christians,” November 16, 2016, http://www. worth-a-thousand-memories/. 2017). mdcr/VFlintCrisisRep-F-Edited3-13-17_554317_7. georgebarna.com/research-flow/2016/11/16/survey- 36. Rev. Dr. William Barber, “Trump’s Evangelical 10. Anna Clark, The Poisoned City: Flint’s Water and pdf, 109. reveals-the-political-analysts-who-had-the-most-in- Fans Preach the Gospel of Greed, Not Grace,” NBC, the American Urban Tragedy (New York: Metropolitan 32. “Presley v. Etowah County Commission,” Oyez, fluence-on-conservative-christians. October 17, 2017, https://www.nbcnews.com/think/ Books, 2018). accessed October 30, 2018, https://www.oyez.org/ 12. George Barna, “God Uses Strong Christian Support opinion/trump-s-evangelical-fans-preach-gospel- 11. “State Strategies to Detect Local Fiscal Distress,” cases/1991/90-711. to Place Donald Trump in the White House,” Novem- greed-not-grace-ncna811046. Pew Charitable Trusts, September 2016, https:// 33. Eric Scorsone, “Frequently Asked Questions ber 9, 2016, http://www.georgebarna.com/research- 37. Personal Faith, Public Policy, 141. www.pewtrusts.org/-/media/assets/2016/09/detect- About the new Michigan Local Financial Emergency flow/2016/11/9/god-uses-strong-christian-support- 38. “Our Staff,” Greenwell Springs Baptist Church, ing_local_distress_report.pdf, 2. Also see: Joshua Law,” Michigan State University Extension, January to-place-donald-trump-in-the-white-house. http://www.gsbcla.com/about/our-staff. Sapotichne, Erika Rosebrook, Eric A. Scorsone, et al, 2013, http://msue.anr.msu.edu/uploads/236/25914/ 13. Sarah McCammon, “Inside Trump’s Closed- 39. “Fast Facts about the SBC,” Southern Baptist Con- “Beyond State Takeovers: Reconsidering the Role of FAQ-WhyNewLawWasPassed.pdf. Door Meeting, Held to Reassure ‘The Evangeli- vention, http://www.sbc.net/BecomingSouthernBap- State Government in Local Financial Distress, with 34. See, for example, Flint Water Advisory Task cals,’” NPR, June 21, 2016, https://www.npr. tist/FastFacts.asp. Important Lessons for Michigan and its Embattled Cit- Force Final Report, March 21, 2016, https://www. org/2016/06/21/483018976/inside-trumps-closed- 40. “Religious Landscape Study,” Pew Research Cen- ies,” Michigan State University Extension, August 31, michigan.gov/documents/snyder/FWATF_FINAL_ door-meeting-held-to-reassures-the-evangelicals. ter, http://www.pewforum.org/religious-landscape- 2015, http://msue.anr.msu.edu/uploads/resources/ REPORT_21March2016_517805_7.pdf; Joint Select 14. “Tony Perkins on Billy Graham’s Legacy,” C- study/religious-denomination/southern-baptist- pdfs/beyond_state_takeovers.pdf. Committee on the Flint Water Emergency, Flint Water SPAN, February 28, 2018, https://www.c-span.org/ convention/#demographic-information. 12. Josh Hakala, “How did we get here? A look back Crisis, October 19, 2016, https://www.scribd.com/ video/?441773-3/washington-journal-tony-perkins- 41. SBC, “A Statement Concerning the Crisis in our at Michigan’s emergency manager law,” Michigan document/328166037/Report-of-the-Joint-Select- discusses-reverend-billy-grahams-legacy&start=1595. Nation,” Ethics Daily, July 23, 2002, https://www. Radio, February 3, 2016, http://www.michiganradio. Committee; Michigan Civil Rights Commission, The 15. “RNC Platform as ‘Tony Perkins platform,’” Morn- ethicsdaily.com/a-statement-concerning-the-crisis-in- org/post/how-did-we-get-here-look-back-michigans- Flint Water Crisis: Systemic Racism Through the Lens ing Joe, MSNBC, July 13, 2016, https://www.msnbc. our-nation-cms-1181/. emergency-manager-law. of Flint, February 17, 2017, https://www.michigan. com/morning-joe/watch/rnc-platform-as-tony-per- 42. The Nation, “Exclusive: Lee Atwater’s Famous gov/mdcr/0,4613,7-138--405318--,00.html.

22 • The Public Eye FALL 2018 endnotes

35. Jonathan Oosting, “Michigan: No emergency man- 28. Heidi Vogt, “Koch-Financed Groups Launch Latinos Voted in 2004,” Pew Research Center, June 27, stinence Education? It’s Right and It Works,” https:// agers for first time since ’00,” The Detroit News, June Campaign to Halt U.S. Import Tariffs,” The Wall Street 2005, http://www.pewhispanic.org/2005/06/27/iv- www.focusonthefamily.com/socialissues/education/ 27, 2018, https://www.detroitnews.com/story/news/ Journal, June 4, 2018, https://www.wsj.com/articles/ how-latinos-voted-in-2004/. why-abstinence-education-its-right-and-it-works/ local/michigan/2018/06/27/michigan-no-emergen- koch-financed-groups-launch-campaign-to-halt-u-s- 59. Stephen Nuño, interview by the author, July 11, why-abstinence-education-its-right-and-it-works. cy-managers-first-time-since-2000/737947002/. import-tariffs-1528155570. 2018. 12. Christina Cauterucci, “President Who Bragged 29. Wadi Gartan, interview with the author, July 10, 60. Mark Hugo Lopez, The Hispanic Vote in 2008, About Extramarital Sex Appoints Top Abstinence Ad- Kochs in Pro-Immigrant Clothing, p. 13 2018. (Washington, DC: Pew Hispanic Center, November vocate to HHS,” Slate, June 7, 2017, https://slate.com/ 1. Carlos Alfaro, “Immigration in Arizona 2018,” 30. Ibid. 2008), http://www.pewhispanic.org/2008/11/05/ human-interest/2017/06/president-who-bragged- (panel remarks, Tempe, AZ, July 19, 2018). 31. Andy Sullivan, “Conservative Koch-backed group the-hispanic-vote-in-the-2008-election/. about-extramarital-sex-appoints-top-abstinence-advo- 2. Salvador Rizzo, “The facts about Trump’s policy uses soft touch in recruiting U.S. Hispanics,” Reuters, 61. Amanda Sakuma, “Trump Did Better With Blacks, cate-to-hhs.html. of separating families at the border,” The Washington April 22, 2014, https://www.reuters.com/article/ Hispanics Than Romney in ’12: Exit Polls,” NBC News, 13. Crystal Kupper, “Changing the Conversation,” Fo- Post, June 19, 2018, https://www.washingtonpost. us-koch-group-hispanics/conservative-koch-backed- November 9, 2016, https://www.nbcnews.com/ cus on the Family Citizen Magazine, 2016, https://www. com/news/fact-checker/wp/2018/06/19/the-facts- group-uses-soft-touch-in-recruiting-u-s-hispanics- storyline/2016-election-day/trump-did-better-blacks- focusonthefamily.com/socialissues/citizen-magazine/ about-trumps-policy-of-separating-families-at-the- idUSBREA3L07F20140422. hispanics-romney-12-exit-polls-n681386. changing-the-conversation. border/. 32. Issues: Health Care, The LIBRE Initiative, http:// 62. Lucy Madison, “Romney on immigration: I’m 14. Valerie Huber, “Sexual Risk Avoidance Education: 3. LIBRE, “The LIBRE Initiative Launches Dreamer thelibreinitiative.com/issue/health-care. for ‘self-deportation,’” CBS News, January 24, 2012, Common Sense, Science, and Health Are Winning the Ad as Part of Six-Figure Campaign,” The LIBRE Initia- 33. Daniel Garza, interview by the author, July 14, https://www.cbsnews.com/news/romney-on-immi- Day,” The Hill, March 12, 2017, http://thehill.com/ tive, February 26, 2018, http://thelibreinitiative.com/ 2018. gration-im-for-self-deportation/. blogs/pundits-blog/healthcare/323590-sexual-risk- libre-initiative-launches-dreamer-ad-part-six-figure- 34. Seung Min Kim, “Hispanic group offers anti-ACA 63. “RNC report 2013: Growth and opportunity proj- avoidance-education-common-sense-science-and- campaign. ad,” Politico, January 14, 2014, https://www.politico. ect,” Politico, March 18, 2013, https://www.politico. health. 4. Tara Golshan, “Congress failed to do some- com/story/2014/01/hispanic-group-offers-anti-obam- com/story/2013/03/rnc-report-growth-and-opportu- 15. Barna, https://www.barna.com/. thing on immigration—again. Here’s why,” Vox, acare-affordable-care-act-ad-joe-garcia-102189. nity-088987. 16. Ascend, “Does CSE Work?” https://weascend.org/ July 2, 2018, https://www.vox.com/policy-and-poli- 35. The LIBRE Initiative: The Koch Brothers’ New Fo- 64. Mark Hugo Lopez, “Latinos and the political par- wp-content/uploads/2017/10/doescsework2016.pdf. tics/2018/7/2/17509726/congress-fail-immigration- cus on Winning Latino Voters, People for the American ties,” Pew Research Center, October 11, 2016, http:// 17. Ibid. again. Way, February 13, 2015, http://files.pfaw.org/pfaw_ www.pewhispanic.org/2016/10/11/latinos-and-the- 18. Megan Donovan, “The Looming Threat to Sex 5. Alan Gomez, “Who are the DACA DREAMers files/images/RWW_Libre_report_mech.pdf. political-parties/. Education: A Resurgence of Federal Funding for Absti- and how many are here?,” USA Today, February 13, 36. Nigel Duara, “Arizona’s once-feared immigra- 65. Roberto Suro, “Here’s What Happened with the nence-Only Programs?” Guttmacher Institute, March 2018, https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/poli- tion law, SB 1070, loses most of its power in settle- Latino Vote,” The New York Times, November 8, 2016, 30, 2017, https://www.guttmacher.org/gpr/2017/03/ tics/2018/02/13/who-daca-dreamers-and-how-many- ment,” Los Angeles Times, September 15, 2016, https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/projects/cp/ looming-threat-sex-education-resurgence-federal- here/333045002/. http://www.latimes.com/nation/la-na-arizona-law- opinion/election-night-2016/heres-what-happened- funding-abstinence-only-programs. 6. David Nakamura, “Trump administration an- 20160915-snap-story.html. with-the-latino-vote. 19. Ascend, “Does CSE Work?” nounces end of immigration protection program for 37. The LIBRE Initiative: The Koch Brothers’ New Focus 66. Daniel Garza, interview by the author, July 14, 20. Ascend, “Sexual Risk Avoidance Works,” https:// ‘dreamers,’” Washington Post, September 5, 2017, on Winning Latino Voters, People for the American Way, 2018. weascend.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/10/srawork- https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/post- February 13, 2015, http://files.pfaw.org/pfaw_files/ 67. “Latinos and the New Trump Administration,“ sweb.pdf. politics/wp/2017/09/05/trump-administration-an- images/RWW_Libre_report_mech.pdf. Pew Research Center, February 22, 2017, http:// 21. Suzannah Weiss, “The US Teen Birth Rate Has Hit nounces-end-of-immigration-protection-program-for- 38. Theodore Schleifer, “Koch brothers Hispanic www.pewhispanic.org/2017/02/23/latinos-and- an All-Time Low,” Teen Vogue, July 1, 2017, https:// dreamers/. group airs TV ads for Rubio,” CNN, September 7, 2016, the-new-trump-administration/ph-02-23-17_latinos- www.teenvogue.com/story/teen-birth-rate-all-time- 7. S.M., “Is DACA heading for the Supreme Court,” https://www.cnn.com/2016/09/07/politics/marco- trump-00-02/. low. The Economist, August 28, 2018, https://www.econo- rubio-koch-nonprofit/. 68. Russell Heimlich, “Hispanics Favor Bigger Role for 22. Ascend, “Failure” infographic, https://weascend. mist.com/democracy-in-america/2018/08/27/is-da- 39. S.744 – Border Security, Economic Opportunity, Government,” Pew Research Center, April 20, 2012, org/wp-content/uploads/2017/10/Infographic-TPP- ca-heading-for-the-supreme-court. and Immigration Modernization Act (2013-2014), http://www.pewresearch.org/fact-tank/2012/04/20/ Failure-v2-1-page-printable.pdf. 8. LIBRE, “Grassroots, D.C. Events Build Support https://www.congress.gov/bill/113th-congress/sen- hispanics-favor-bigger-role-for-government/. 23. HHS Grants Notice, https://www.grants.gov/web/ for Protecting Dreamers,” The LIBRE Initiative, July ate-bill/744. 69. Clarissa Martínez-de-Castro, interview by the au- grants/view-opportunity.html?oppId=307638. 20, 2018, http://thelibreinitiative.com/grassroots-dc- 40. Mary Bottari, “Koch Latino Front Group Instructs thor, July 18, 2018. 24. “Chris Shay Grills Stan Weed on Abstinence-On- events-build-support-protecting-dreamers-4. Arizona Moms About School Vouchers,” Center for Me- 70. Fernanda Uriegas, “Why Do Many Cubans Vote ly,” Youtube, 2008, https://www.youtube.com/watch 9. The LIBRE Initiative: Core Financials, Source dia and Democracy, November 27, 2017, https://www. Republican,” Medium, May 2, 2017, https://medium. ?v=4S6laGMCw30&feature=youtu.be. Watch, https://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php/ exposedbycmd.org/2017/11/27/koch-latino-front- com/@fernanda.uriegas.fabian/why-do-many-cu- 25. Kathrin Stanger-Hall and David Hall, “Abstinence- The_Libre_Initiative#Core_Financials. group-instructs-arizona-moms-school-vouchers/. bans-vote-republican-a72c9831bbad. Only Education and Teen Pregnancy Rates: Why We 10. Daniel Garza, interview by the author, July 14, 41. Clarissa Martínez-de-Castro, interview by the au- 71. Frank Sherry, interview by the author, July 27, Need Comprehensive Sex Education in the US,” PLoS 2018. thor, July 18, 2018. 2018. One, 2011, 6(10): e24658, https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih. 11. Jorge Silva, interview by the author, July 12, 2018. 42. Hatewatch Staff, “Anti-Muslim fanatic David 72. Jorge Silva, interview by the author, July 12, 2018. gov/pmc/articles/PMC3194801/. 12. “FRC Staff: John Mendez,” Family Research Coun- Horowitz speaks at influential American Legislative 73. Gabriel Arana, “The Mythical Monolith: Latinos 26. Ascend, “SRA Works,” https://weascend.org/wp- cil, https://www.frc.org/john-mendez. Exchange Council,” Southern Poverty Law Center, have the power to revolutionize American politics. But content/uploads/2017/10/SRA-Works-web-18.pdf. 13. “The LIBRE Initiative: The Koch Brothers’ Focus September 12, 2018, https://www.splcenter.org/ first they have to vote,” The American Prospect, Febru- 27. Amy Lieberman, “US ‘Regressive’ Stance at CSW on Latino Voters,” Right Wing Watch, February 2015, hatewatch/2018/09/12/anti-muslim-fanatic-david- ary 9, 2014, http://prospect.org/article/myth-of-the- Dominates UN’s Largest Meeting on Women,” Devex, http://www.rightwingwatch.org/report/the-libre- horowitz-speaks-influential-american-legislative- sleeping-latino-giant. https://www.devex.com/news/us-regressive-stance- initiative-the-koch-brothers-focus-on-latino-voters/. exchange-council. 74. Clarissa Martínez-de-Castro, interview by the au- at-csw-dominates-un-s-largest-meeting-on-wom- 14. Fernanda Denys Reyes, “5 Key Facts About 43. Christopher Mathias, “Steve King is a White thor, July 18, 2018. en-92410. Supremacist, and the GOP Doesn’t Care,” Huff- 28. Ema O’Connor, “Administration Officials Pushed the Affordable Care Act for Latinos,” Center for Bringing Bad Sex Ed Back, p. 19 American Progress, January 13, 2015, https:// Post, July 19, 2018, https://www.huffington- Abstinence for International Women’s Health Pro- www.americanprogress.org/issues/race/ post.com/entry/steve-king-white-nationalist_ 1. Ema O’Connor, “Administration Officials Pushed grams.” news/2015/01/13/104283/5-key-facts-about-the- us_5b3276f0e4b0b745f1784ebe. Abstinence for International Women’s Health Pro- 29. Haywood L Brown, MD, “Unintended Pregnancy affordable-care-act-for-Latinxs/. 44. Theodore Schleifer, “King doubles down on grams,” BuzzFeed, April 17, 2018, https://www. Prevention is Essential to Women’s Health,” ACOG, 15. Daniel Garza, interview by the author, July 14, controversial ‘babies’ tweet,” CNN, March 14, 2017, buzzfeed.com/emaoconnor/un-meeting-trump-ad- July 17, 2017, https://www.acog.org/About-ACOG/ 2018. https://www.cnn.com/2017/03/13/politics/steve- ministration-abstinence. News-Room/Statements/2017/Unintended-Pregnan- 16. Daniel Garza, “Catherine Cortez Masto no merece king-babies-tweet-cnntv/index.html. 2. Jessie Hellmann, “Abstinence-Only Education cy-Prevention-is-Essential-to-Womens-Health. el voto latino,” Univision, September 23, 2016, https:// 45. German Lopez, “Rep. Steve King’s lat- Making a Comeback Under Trump,” The Hill, March 8, 30. Valerie Huber, “Sexual Risk Avoidance Education: www.univision.com/noticias/opinion/catherine-cor- est racist remarks are far from his first,” Vox, 2018, http://thehill.com/policy/healthcare/377304- Common Sense, Science, and Health Are Winning the tez-masto-no-merece-el-voto-latino?hootPostID=e572 March 13, 2017, https://www.vox.com/identi- abstinence-only-education-making-a-come- Day.” 9df27efe370a4338aa412cd9dc78. ties/2017/3/13/14908184/steve-king-racist. back-under-trump. 31. Nicole Jaramillo et al., “Associations Between Sex 17. Daniel Garza, interview by the author, July 14, 46. Center for Responsive Politics, Louis B. Gohmert 3. Avery Anapol, “Trump Official Claimed US Education and Contraceptive Use Among Heterosexu- 2018. Jr., OpenSecrets.org, https://www.opensecrets.org/ is a ‘Pro Life Nation’ in UN Meeting: Report,” The ally Active, Adolescent Males in the United States,” 18. Ibid. members-of-congress/summary?cid=N00026148&cy Hill, April 17, 2018, http://thehill.com/policy/ Journal of Adolescent Health, https://www.jahonline. 19. “Our People: Jorge Silva,” Latino Victory Project, cle=Career. healthcare/383579-trump-officials-claimed-us-is-a- org/article/S1054-139X(16)30878-3/abstract. https://latinovictory.us/project/jorge-silva/. 47. John Nichols, “The Koch Brothers Get Their Very pro-life-nation-pushed-for-abstinence-based. 32. Jessie Hellmann, “Federal Judge Blocks Trump 20. Jorge Silva, interview by the author, July 12, 2018. Own Secretary of State,” The Nation, March 13, 2018, 4. Amy Lieberman, “US ‘Regressive’ Stance at CSW Cuts to Planned Parenthood Teen Pregnancy Program,” 21. Reynaldo Benitez, interview by the author, July https://www.thenation.com/article/the-koch-broth- Dominates UN’s Largest Meeting on Women,” Devex, The Hill, April 25, 2018, http://thehill.com/policy/ 17, 2018. ers-get-their-very-own-secretary-of-state/. March 27, 2018, https://www.devex.com/news/ healthcare/384770-federal-judge-blocks-trump-ad- 22. Elizabeth Llorente, “Immigration activists retool 48. Lesley Wroughton, “Trump asks Mike Pompeo us-regressive-stance-at-csw-dominates-un-s-largest- mins-cuts-to-planned-parenthood-in-teen. their push for reform, reach out to Trump and GOP,” to look at South African land seizures and ‘large scale meeting-on-women-92410. 33. Tara Murtha, “After Losing 5 Federal Lawsuits, Fox News, November 15, 2016, https://www.foxnews. killing of farmers,’” Reuters, August 23, 2018, https:// 5. SPLC, “Hate Map by Ideology: Anti-LGBT,” Trump Admin Resumes Funding Teen Pregnancy com/politics/immigration-activists-retool-their-push- www.businessinsider.com/trump-asks-mike-pom- https://www.splcenter.org/hate-map/by-ideology. Prevention Program,” Women’s Law Project, Au- for-reform-reach-out-to-trump-and-gop. peo-south-africa-land-white-killing-apartheid-2018-8. 6. Karen Kahn, “UN Commission on Status of Wom- gust 10, 2018, https://www.womenslawproject. 23. Daniel Garza, “CPAC panel: No, illegal immi- 49. Jorge Silva, interview by the author, July 12, 2018. en Hampered by Regressive US Policies,” Nonprofit org/2018/08/10/after-losing-5-federal-lawsuits- grants don’t need a path to citizenship,” LIBRE Ini- 50. Frank Sharry, interview by the author, July 27, Quarterly, March 30, 2018, https://nonprofitquarterly. trump-admin-resumes-funding-teen-pregnancy-pre- tiative, March 13, 2013, http://thelibreinitiative. 2018. org/2018/03/30/un-commission-status-women-ham- vention-program/. com/content/cpac-panel-no-illegal-immigrants- 51. Jorge Silva, interview by the author, July 12, 2018. pered-regressive-us-policies/. 34. HHS, Office of the Assistant Secretary for Health, don%C3%A2%E2%82%AC%E2%84%A2t-need-path- 52. Ibid. 7. CBS, “States Shun Funds for Abstinence Educa- “Fact Sheet: FY 2018 Funding Opportunity Announce- citizenship. 53. “ICYMI: The LIBRE Institute ‘Welcome to Florida’ tion,” June 24, 2008, https://www.cbsnews.com/ ments for Teen Pregnancy Prevention Program,” 24. “Latinos Give White House Mixed Marks on Immi- Program Assists Newcomers to the State,” The LIBRE news/states-shun-funds-for-abstinence-education/. April 20, 2018, https://www.hhs.gov/ash/about-ash/ gration, Health Care,” LIBRE Initiative, December 12, Institute, March 8, 2018, https://thelibreinstitute.org/ 8. Kathrin Stanger-Hall and David Hall, “Abstinence- news/2018/fy-2018-funding-opportunity-announce- 2014, http://thelibreinitiative.com/press/latinos-give- blog/2018/03/icymi-the-libre-institute-welcome-to- Only Education and Teen Pregnancy Rates: Why We ments-tpp-factsheet.html. white-house-mixed-marks-immigration-health-care. florida-program-assists-newcomers-to-the-state/. Need Comprehensive Sex Education in the US,” PLoS 35. Ibid. 25. Wadi Gartan, interview with the author, July 10, 54. Adrian Carrasquillo, “’Welcome to Florida!’” One, 2011, 6(10): e24658, https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih. 36. Julie Kay and Ashley Jackson, “Sex, Lies, and Ste- 2018. The Weekly Standard, March 8, 2018, https://www. gov/pmc/articles/PMC3194801/. reotypes,” Legal Momentum, 2008, http://hrp.law.har- 26. Jeffrey Passel, D’Vera Cohn, Ana Gonzalez-Bar- weeklystandard.com/adrian-carrasquillo/welcome- 9. Annamarya Scaccia, “What Trump’s Abstinence- vard.edu/wp-content/uploads/2013/03/sexlies_ste- rera, “Net Migration from Mexico Falls to Zero—and to-florida. Only Education Budget Means for Young People,” Teen reotypes2008.pdf. Perhaps Less,” Pew Research Center, April 23, 2012, 55. Miriam Valverde, “Did Senate pass immigration Vogue, February 21, 2018, https://www.teenvogue. 37. Kaiser Family Foundation, “PEPFAR Fact Sheet,” http://www.pewhispanic.org/2012/04/23/net-migra- bills in 2006, 2013 and House failed to vote on them,” com/story/trumps-abstinence-only-education-budget- http://files.kff.org/attachment/fact-sheet-the-u-s- tion-from-mexico-falls-to-zero-and-perhaps-less/. Politifact, January 26, 2018, https://www.politifact. means-for-young-people. presidents-emergency-plan-for-aids-relief-pepfar. 27. Doris Meissner, Donald Kerwin, Muzaffar Chishti, com/punditfact/statements/2018/jan/26/ronald- 10. John Santelli et al., “Abstinence-Only-Until-Mar- 38. David P. Fidler, “PEPFAR’s Impact on Global Claire Bergeron, “Immigration Enforcement in the brownstein/did-senators-pass-immigration-reform- riage: An Updated Review of US Policies and Programs Health is Fading,” Council on Foreign Relations, May United States: The Rise of a Formidable Machinery,” bills-2006-20/. and Their Impact,” Journal of Adolescent Health, Sep- 18, 2018, https://www.cfr.org/expert-brief/pepfars- Migration Policy Institute, January 2013, https:// 56. Jorge Silva, interview by the author, July 12, 2018. tember 2017, 61(3): 273-280, https://www.jahonline. impact-global-health-fading. www.migrationpolicy.org/research/immigration-en- 57. Stephen Nuño, interview by the author, July 11, org/article/S1054-139X(17)30260-4/fulltext. forcement-united-states-rise-formidable-machinery. 2018. 11. Focus on the Family Issue Analysts, “Why Ab- 58. Roberto Suro, Richard Fry, Jeffrey Passel, “IV. How

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From the Field PRA releases a new report on immigrant, Muslim, and refugee justice.

Over the past year, researchers at have long been mobilizing resentment Political Research Associates set out toward immigrant, Muslim, and refu- to document the effects of the rise of gee communities as a political tactic a White nationalist movement whose and have infiltrated these arms of the policy prescriptions and rhetoric on state. immigrant, refugee, and Muslim pop- Organizers and advocates have re- ulations echo the Trump administra- sponded by building systems of mass tion’s, and to generate new thinking protest, direct action, mutual support, and strategies to address the challeng- and resistance. They continue to pro- es that the moment presents. vide services in efforts to improve the By conducting over 60 interviews, material conditions of people’s lives. we found that organizers and advo- They continue practices that include cates are finding established avenues litigation, policy and regulatory ad- to justice and policy change severely vocacy, voter identification and - en curtailed or even deployed against gagement, support for elected public them. They identified the federal gov- officials who stand with targeted com- ernment, in the form of immigration munities, and community education. policy, surveillance, and law enforce- They are increasing pressure against ment, as the single biggest threat to the administration’s rhetoric and poli- immigrant, refugee, and Muslim com- cies, while shifting (sometimes sharp- munities. Interviewees cited state and ly) the focus and strategies of many of local government, including police, these efforts and cultivating new coali- working in close concert with the fed- tions of shared work or affinity in the eral administration and with right-wing groups. Many interview- process. Read the full executive summary online at: ees also referenced a range of right-wing actors, including the Alt https://www.politicalresearch.org/resources/reports/ Right, local militias, and White nationalist organizations, that

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