Awake Americans pushing anti-diversity, inclusion agenda
Awake Americans, a national affiliate of Awake Illinois, is using Naperville as a launching pad for its views and actions that contradict and undermine our city’s pledge to diversity, equity and inclusion. A public statement from Mayor Scott Werhli and the Naperville City Council is urgently needed to tell them they are not welcome here and to confirm support for and defense of communities and workplaces under attack.
Awake groups across the country are at the forefront of book bannings and untruths being spewed about the LGBTQ+ community, specifically targeting transgender people and drag queen story hours at public libraries. They use bullying tactics to shut down events and undermine public schools and teachers who educate children on the history of racism.
It is no accident that Naperville resident Shannon Adcock, founder of Awake Illinois, used the month of June — the month in which Juneteenth and LGBTQ+ pride celebrations are held — to host Awake Americans at Hotel Arista on June 12. The event included a panel discussion titled, “Woke 101: Is Marxism in America?”
Marxism, socialist ideas and left parties have led political, social and labor movements in the U.S. for centuries. I’m a Marxist feminist who has distributed the Freedom Socialist newspaper for 50-plus years.
Because the right wing fears us and our publications for truth-telling and building unity among the working class and our allies, they raise the specter of Marxism in the U.S. to cause suspicion and fear. Remember the 1950s and ’60s, when those suspected of being communists or homosexuals were forced out of jobs, and some put in prison and mental institutions?
Book bans are just the start of neo-Nazi agendas. Urgent united mass action is needed to nip them in the bud!
Mary Ann Curtis, Naperville
Plans to laud Moms for America at board meeting appalling
As president of the Illinois National Organization for Women and a resident of Will County, I am appalled some members of the Will County Board had plans to recognize Moms for America, a group that is part of the nationwide assault on America’s LGBTQ community, Black Americans and children.
Thanks to a large outcry, a plan to “officially” laud the group at this past week’s county board meeting was removed from the agenda. More heinous, however, is that the planned recognition of Pride Month and Juneteenth at the same meeting also were removed from the same agenda.
Moms and Awake groups are responsible for book bans, hate speech at school board meetings, and attacks on our public libraries and schools. They believe they alone are the arbiters of morality. They often align with white supremist groups such as Patriot Front and Proud Boys, groups seen at Pride events and racist rallies, where they are known to scream “Jews will not replace us.” In fact, their use of the term Marxist is highly antisemitic.
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They fight the teaching of racism and complain that white children will be harmed, telling Black children that their history is irrelevant. They call supporters of LGBTQ youth “groomers” and “pedophiles.”
Young people at Pride events fear their parents will kick them out of their homes if they are LGBTQ. These young people often end up in cities where they become victims of drug dealers and sex traffickers. Many often self-harm or commit suicide, according to LGBTQ support organizations.
Neither Moms for America, or any similar group, should be celebrated. I am disgusted some Will County Board members would want to laud a group that harms many in our community while refusing to celebrate those that provide support.
Laura Welch, Naperville
President, Illinois NOW
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