Who will speak for the children? Parents, advocates march for the welfare of children

Waving yellow flags with handwritten messages such as “Future of the USA,” “For My Grandchildren,” “All the Children of America…God Bless the USA,” the March for Kids saw several hundred from all over the country in Washington, D.C., rally for parental rights and child safety in education.

The rally took place Saturday, during the Moms for Liberty Joyful Warriors National Summit, a “gathering of parents fighting to defend their parental rights and improve education in America.”

The event was encapsulated by a Mary Millben song, featuring Lee Greenwood and written for the event, called “On to Victory: A Mother’s Anthem.”

“And what about the children? Who will speak for them?” the song asks. “Let grace and truth lead us on to victory.”

The audience joined in singing as the music played.

One mother and advocate in attendance spoke to The Lion about the particular threat of gender ideology on the safety and wellbeing of children. 

“Our local middle school socially transitioned our 13-year-old daughter without our knowledge or consent, and this had devastating consequences on her mental health,” January Littlejohn, a senior fellow with Do No Harm, said. “It’s just this gender ideology is so destructive, it puts children at war with their natal bodies, and it’s a war they’re never going to win.  

“We must inoculate this generation from the lies of gender ideology and help them to be comfortable in their God-given bodies.” 

Speakers at the rally talked about the plight of children in public schools, and how they are fighting back. 

“We don’t have to theorize or guess where things may be and where we may end up because we are already seeing it play out,” former Congresswoman and former Democratic presidential candidate Tulsi Gabbard told the audience. 

“I was thinking about my son who’s sitting right up there and I’m listening, and I’m wondering – I don’t think he gets it,” political commentator Glenn Beck said about what schools are teaching children. “I don’t think any of our kids really get it. 

“None of this is normal. All of this is wildly abnormal.” 

Rebecca Friedrichs, of For Kids and Country, spoke about her work opting educators out of teachers’ unions, which she believes undermine students’ ability to learn and succeed.  

“Did you know that now two-thirds of 8th graders are not proficient in one subject?” Friedrichs said during her speech. “And did you know that millions and millions of Americans are now functional illiterates? 

“It’s time we give [unions] a name that fits their crimes. Join me in calling them the ‘education cartel.’” 

“Unions have destroyed our schools,” Friedrichs told The Lion, adding that she was marching to bring awareness to the issue. “We can do better. We need to kick these people out. We need to stand for our kids. 

“They’re exploiting teachers to push a really radical agenda. I’ll tell you, it’s a communist agenda, and I’ve seen it from the inside. Only communists sexualize children and try to undermine parents and try to undermine a free republic.” 

Photo: Moms for Liberty, Williamson County, Texas (via X).