[An op-ed piece is a short newspaper column that represents the strong, informed, and focused opinion of a writer on an issue of relevance to a targeted audience. It is a written prose piece which expresses the opinion of an author or entity with no affiliation with the publication’s editorial board. Vero Communiqué encourages a free and open exchange of ideas by welcoming reader’s editorial submissions. Through discussions like these we can all learn more about the topics themselves and the perspectives of others.]

Jennifer Pippin is the Chairman of Moms for Liberty Indian River, FL. The national M4L organization has over 300 chapters in 48 states and over 200,000 members nationwide and started here in IRC and Brevard counties in January 2021. Jennifer is a native Floridian and has lived in Indian River County for two decades and proud to call Sebastian her home with her family. 

‘I wanted to do an opinion piece to respond an opinion piece by Julie Sharkey-Villars that we believe contained erroneous information from a citizen that opposes our organization and members. 

Julie Sharkey-Villars, who recently wrote an op ed for Vero Communique has been attacking Moms for Liberty and our chapter, specifically, for months. She has sent emails to some of the school board members full of derogatory comments. She has sent misinformation and slanderous comments to various news outlets and bloggers across the state in attempts to discredit our non-profit and criminalize our members. We reject this. 

In her opinion piece, Julie Sharkey-Villars suggests we illegally posted pictures on social media. 

For the record, we shared the PUBLIC posts from the School District of Indian River County on our PUBLIC Facebook page. We were celebrating the amazing successes of children.

During homecoming and awards so far this year, many pictures are of families of Moms for Liberty! If any parent has an issue with their child or child’s name or picture publicly posted on the School District of Indian River County (SDIRC) public social media pages they need to take that issue up with SDIRC and not people/organizations sharing the posts. Also release forms were signed by parents at the beginning of school year for authorization to share publicly. 

To be honest, this is the first I’ve heard of any issue about the social media posts. NO ONE has called, emailed, shared on social media with us or any contact about this to me or our organization. Feel free to review our social media pages on this as well. 

We have many teachers, principals, bus drivers, and district staff that are Moms for Liberty members and even some that support us that aren’t members because they fear retaliation if they represent us and only reach out on their personal cell phones or personal emails or show up to meetings to not get the pushback from the liberals in the district. We are  the majority of people. 

That Julie Sharkey Villars has a first amendment right to free speech doesn’t mean that she can spread misinformation because she doesn’t agree with an organization M4L or person. Facts matter and we will continue to advocate for parental rights and children. 

In closing, Moms for Liberty Indian River, FL and I understand very clearly how media is used particularly on the social platforms. Our membership vigorously defends its positions every day and will call out those who speak falsely against what our organization stands for in its defense of parental rights and children. 

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