As we close 2024 and make way for 2025, I remember what brought me to Moms for Liberty. I not being one of politics or an activist, was asked by my partner to attend a meeting because she would not be able to herself due to her work schedule. If my memory is correct, it was sometime in December 2020. I was asked to attend a Moms for Liberty meeting in Templeton and take notes for my partner because she was interested in joining this group. COVID has already exceeded its two-week lockdown more times than I could count anymore. As parents of a child who would soon be starting his first day of Kindergarten, we had concerns about how the schools would re-open in the fall with all the COVID-19 regulations and requirements the schools had to implement. Our son had an IEP and with his anxiety and how he manages it, we were able to obtain a mask exemption for him before school started. Just before our son started Kindergarten, we were told his progress had put him at a point where he no longer needed the IEP, but what we did not realize was that the decision to drop the IEP would also disqualify him for the mask exemption. I felt stuck, I knew what would happen if we put our son in a mask and sent him to school for hours wearing it and I was not going to let that happen. In California, we learned that our son did not have to start kindergarten at 5 and we could hold him out of school until he turned six.
At this meeting, I was sitting in a woman's house whom I had never met before and knew nothing about with about 5 or 6 other women. I introduced myself and explained that my partner could not make the meeting, so she sent me. As I sat and listened to what these ladies had to say I was shocked to hear the stories of how children had been treated during school hours due to the regulations, it was plain to see children being abused by a system that we as parents trusted. I could not walk away from this and that is how I found my place as the communications director for Moms for Liberty SLO. I became a part of an amazing group of strong, intelligent, amazing women who have the will to protect our children and empower other parents to stand up to government overreach.
My journey with Moms for Liberty has led me down a path of research and truth-seeking. A Pandora box was opened and what we have found hidden within our public schools has led us to continue our movement and expose the truth. I accepted the role as the chapter Chair in 2023 after our current Chair Jennifer Grinager had to step down due to winning the Templeton school board race. It has been going on 4years since we started with the mask mandate only to discover inappropriate reading material in our public school and ideologies being thought that do not belong in public education. As April 2025 approaches so does my two-year term as your chapter Chair of Moms for Liberty San Louis Obispo County, and it is with many emotions that I let you know I will not be seeking another term as Chapter Chair. It is time for me to take all that I have learned and all that I have become and continue my journey on another path. I have been honored to be a part of such an amazing team as Jennifer Grinager, Rebekah Koznek, Stacie Emmack, Carrie Asi, and Erin Westmoreland a true powerhouse of women who stand strong on what they believe, who love our country and for what it was founded on and will fight for our children. I have found my voice and strength with these women, and I will take my voice and continue to use it to spread the truth and empower parents to stand up for their rights.
Trisha Murray – Chapter Chair
Moms for Liberty San Luis Obispo County
