Moms for Liberty barred from Alaska state fair after hate group label

A grassroots parental rights organization has been banned from attending the state fair in Alaska after a local activist accused it of being a “hate group,” citing a controversial left-leaning watchdog organization.

Moms for Liberty, a leading national conservative group known for challenging public school library books and curricula they deem inappropriate for little ones, has been denied an application to set up a one-day booth at the Tanana Valley State Fair in Fairbanks, Alaska’s oldest state fair.

“Defending parental rights and defending your children is not extremism,” Moms For Liberty President Tiffany Justice told Fox News Digital on Tuesday.

BEN CARSON, RILEY WON CHALLENGE TO SURPRISE CHILDREN’S PROCESS OF FAITH FROM US HISTORY BOOKS FOR AMERICA’S 250TH ANNIVERSARY

According to Justice, the Fairbanks chapter, run by Gail McBride, received a rejection letter from the fair’s board of directors on April 27 rejecting their application to participate in the event.

“It was pretty interesting,” said McBride, president of the Fairbanks chapter of Mothers for Freedom. Alaska Watchman. “The community needs to know that this is just another attempt to cancel conservatives by screaming loudly.”

Scott Vance, executive director of the Tanana Valley State Fair Association (TVSFA), told Fox News Digital that “local chapter members and associated individuals have failed to maintain etiquette, become hostile to staff, and harass association members at board meetings over the past several months.”

“The Tanana Valley State Fair Association reserves the right to reject any application in its sole discretion. In the Association’s judgment, applications that are reasonably expected to create disruption, jeopardize the safety or comfort of attendees, or conflict with the Fair’s mission of providing a welcoming, family-oriented environment will not be accepted,” Vance said.

It continued: “Sellers are responsible for their own actions, as well as the actions of their agents, employees, volunteers and suppliers.”

The local chapter of the conservative group, which aims to bolster its mission to defend parental rights, has applied for a one-day table at the annual meeting. In the past, the fair was known for family-friendly events, livestock exhibits and local crafts.

McBride reportedly attended the Tanana Valley State Fair Board of Directors meeting on April 15 to promote the division and correct what he described as local misinformation about the group. Following his remarks, David Leslie, a former fair employee who was heavily involved in the event, addressed the board to object to the group’s presence.

Bryan Fair, interim president and CEO of the Southern Poverty Law Center, speaks at a House Judiciary Committee hearing on June 9, 2026, in Washington, DC. (Elizabeth Frantz/Bloomberg via Getty Images)

Leslie claimed that the Liberty Mothers were an “anti-government, extremist hate group,” pointing out that they were designated by the Southern Poverty Law Center (SPLC).

“They specifically target LGBT individuals,” Leslie said, according to local reporting from the Alaska Watchman. “This is extremely dangerous. People are dying because of hate. People are killing themselves.”

SPLC announced The Year in Hate and Extremism The 2022 report describes Mothers for Freedom as an “extremist group”. An official from the group claimed that Moms For Liberty was trying to “undermine public education holistically.” Reported on NPR 2023.

CONSERVATIVE GROUP TARGETED SPLC-INSPIRED TERRORIST ATTACKS, REQUESTED RENEWAL AFTER DOJ CLAIM

Leslie also used her time to criticize the fair board for previously canceling a local drag performance and called on current members to prevent anyone affiliated with Moms for Liberty from running for a seat on the fair board.

A few days after the meeting, the fair’s board of directors formally rejected the department’s application for a one-day table, without providing a public justification for the rejection. McBride responded to the board in a letter dated June 25, writing that he was “surprised by the denial” and asserting that the board’s decision “does not represent our community.”

In his response, McBride also lashed out at the board’s reliance on the SPLC’s “hate group” label, pointing to the watchdog organization’s mounting legal troubles. The SPLC has faced intense national scrutiny following a federal grand jury indictment charging the organization with multiple counts of fraud and money laundering conspiracy.

Justice told Fox News Digital that the organization is “currently taking legal action” after being denied participation in the fair. He added that the SPLC has been used as a resource by government agencies to identify “hate groups” and that the incident in Alaska is not the first.

“The only thing that comes to mind is Williamson County in Texas… they can’t participate because they are on the SPLC hate map. Yes, this is an ongoing problem across the country,” Justice said.

Moms for Liberty, a leading national conservative group known for challenging public school library books and curricula they deem inappropriate for little ones, has been denied an application to set up a one-day booth at the Tanana Valley State Fair in Fairbanks, Alaska’s oldest state fair. (For The Washington Post via John McDonnell/Getty Images)

PARENTS IN LOUDOUN DISTRICT ‘Not Happy’ With School Officials Testifying About TRANSGENDER POLICIES

Referring to the TVSFA mission in a statement to Fox News Digital, Vance quoted “The Fair encourages and welcomes participation from all,” and claimed that “the overall organization and reputation of the local partners’ actions are not consistent with their mission.”

“TVSFA reserves the right to reject applications for any reason and all decisions are final. Ultimately, the final decision to approve vendors is at the discretion of the TVSFA Executive Director,” Vance said.

He concluded: “I have an indispensable duty to sort through all complaints and reports from our staff, members, and community. Based on the many issues that have come to my attention, this is the best decision that aligns with the fair’s mission and ensures a welcoming environment.”

The Southern Poverty Law Center did not respond to requests for comment from Fox News Digital.

CLICK TO REACH THE FOX NEWS APPLICATION