County Commissioner is Sorry She Had to Miss Local Hate Group Meeting

Extremist group holds meeting at down-town toy store

Today June 4, the Southern Poverty Law Center Released its annual YEAR IN HATE & EXTREMISM 2023. The report tracked 1430 Hate and Extremists organizations active in America in 2023. Two of which are based here in Mesa County. Team Law and Mesa County Mom’s for Liberty.

Moms for Liberty has seen rapid growth in members and influence since its founding in 2021. They boast 130,000 members nationwide with 310 local chapters. Moms for Liberty has been categorized by the SPLC as an extremist group since 2022.

Locally, Moms for Liberty is actively collecting signatures for ballot initiative #160 ‘Public Athletics Programs of Minors.’ The ballot measure would force transgendered athletes to compete in K-12 sports and extra circular activities according to the student’s sex at birth.

They are also gathering signatures for ballot Initiative #142 the Parental Notification of Gender Incongruence.

The first meetup to sign the anti-trans ballot initiative was held May 22 and was organized by Moms for Liberty and Kenneth Riskey. It was held at eBricks, the local Lego store, on 7th St., which he owns.

A post on Kenneth Riskey’s Facebook page shared photos from the event. Janet Rowland’s ‘public figure’ page commented: “Sorry I couldn’t make it. Let me know when the next meeting is, and I’ll try to make it.”

Today, June 4, another ‘hate-signing’ took place and Mountain Air Roasters on 7th St. The ballot measure is backed by a number of local and national anti-LGBTQ organizations including known hate groups and the Colorado Republican Party. The Colorado Republican Party sent out an email to its members on June 3 with a subject line that reads “God Hates Pride.” A clear callback to the Westboro Baptist Church’s “God Hates F%@’s,” messaging.

Rich Guggenheim, of Gays Against Groomers infamy and one of two designated representatives for ballot initiative #160, was in town for today’s event. Guggenheim is a vocal far-right gay man who is leading the anti-trans movement here in Colorado.

Please protect trans-kids. Do not sign these misleading and harmful ballot initiatives.