Guests - Kelly Walker, Britney Higgs

Fighting for Parental Rights: Inside the Movement to Restore Justice

Building a Coalition Against Government Overreach

The fight for parental rights has found new momentum in Washington D.C., where a coalition of organizations including Moms for America, Moms for Liberty, and newly formed advocacy groups are demanding accountability for COVID-era targeting of parents. What began as isolated incidents of persecution has crystallized into a coordinated effort seeking both recognition and restitution.

Kelly Walker, a parent advocate who became a focal point of government targeting, recently returned from D.C. where his work with actress and advocate Sam Sorbo has gained unprecedented access to decision-makers. Their journey from local persecution to White House meetings illustrates how grassroots advocacy can pierce through institutional resistance.

The turning point came during a June visit to D.C. for an NTD news panel with Tennessee Congressman Andy Ogles. What seemed like a routine media appearance transformed into something much larger when Sam and Kevin Sorbo were invited to a movie premiere dinner. Sitting next to Vince Haley, Trump's domestic policy advisor, opened doors that had previously been closed.

"Sam texted me and said we're invited to the White House tomorrow," Walker recalls. That impromptu meeting led to conversations with the weaponization working group chair Ed Martin at the Department of Justice, creating the foundation for what would become a comprehensive documentation effort.

Documenting the Pattern of Persecution

The scope of targeting became clear as Walker, Sorbo, and others put out a call for stories from affected families. What they compiled reveals a systematic pattern of government overreach that extended far beyond isolated incidents.

Their dossier now contains over 40 families' stories, with more arriving regularly. These accounts span the spectrum of COVID-era concerns - from mental health impacts of school policies to opposition to transgender curriculum and Critical Race Theory instruction. Parents who raised legitimate concerns about their children's education found themselves facing FBI investigations, false arrests, and coordinated campaigns to destroy their livelihoods.

The stories documented in the dossier paint a disturbing picture of constitutional violations. One schoolgirl voted for the "wrong" party in a mock classroom election and was physically grabbed by the throat by her teacher. Another family had their door broken down by FBI agents with a battering ram, handcuffed at gunpoint in front of their children.

Walker's own case serves as a template for understanding how far the persecution extended. "I'm 55 years old, my wife and I say it's like we're starting over as newlyweds," he explains. "They went after everything they took, everything they framed people, they concocted false stories."

The documentation effort revealed something even more troubling - the coordination between federal and local authorities. Recently released documents from America First Legal show that Merrick Garland's DOJ collaborated with local school districts and administrators to chill First Amendment rights, despite internal DOJ lawyers advising against prosecution for lack of legal basis.

The Press Conference and Political Momentum

The July 15th press conference at the House Triangle on the east side of the Capitol represented a culmination of months of preparation. Representatives from major parental rights organizations spoke alongside affected parents, creating a powerful visual of the movement's breadth.

The timing proved fortuitous. As the coalition drove to D.C., news broke that the Supreme Court had upheld Trump's ability to fire people in the Department of Education. This decision provided additional leverage for their advocacy efforts and underscored the political winds shifting in their favor.

The press conference drew attention not just for its substance but for the contrast it provided. Immediately following their event, a Republican lawmaker held a press conference advocating for amnesty for illegal immigrants. The stark difference in crowd sizes highlighted where establishment priorities lay versus grassroots concerns.

Momentum continued building as additional developments emerged. The NEA charter faced challenges, and America First Legal's lawsuit revealed the extent of federal coordination against parents. These parallel developments created a sense that accountability was finally within reach.

Seeking Restitution, Not Reparations

The movement's goals extend beyond recognition to concrete action. Working with allies, they've drafted an executive order that takes a deliberately different approach from typical government responses to injustice.

"This is not some idea of reparations which the left loves - these nebulous concepts of just giving money to people for who knows what," Walker explains. "We're pushing the idea of restitution, which is very different because it means that documentable harms have been done, people were deprived of life, liberty and property, and that needs to be restored."

The distinction matters both practically and symbolically. Restitution requires documenting specific harms and calculating actual damages. It acknowledges that government targeting wasn't just wrong in principle but caused measurable harm to real families.

The proposal includes having President Trump honor these parents for standing up and doing the right thing, coupled with concrete steps to make families whole again. This approach recognizes both the courage required to speak out during the persecution and the ongoing costs families continue to bear.

The Broader Pattern of Political Targeting

Walker's involvement extends beyond school board issues to broader questions of political targeting during the Biden years. His work with Mike Lindell on behalf of Tina Peters, currently imprisoned for election-related charges, demonstrates how the persecution of parents fits into a larger pattern of weaponized government.

Many of the targeted parents, including Sharon Bishop who spoke at the press conference, faced dual persecution - both for school board participation and for questioning the 2020 election. This dual targeting reveals how the weaponization of government extended across multiple areas of political dissent.

The systematic nature of this targeting becomes clear when examining the coordination revealed in the America First Legal documents. Federal authorities actively sought "federal hooks" to prosecute parents whose only crime was exercising First Amendment rights. Local school administrators and boards were encouraged to work with federal authorities to silence opposition.

This coordination created a chilling effect that extended far beyond those actually prosecuted. "How many parents were intimidated and silenced and didn't speak out when all this was happening?" Sorbo asked during their interviews. The documented cases represent only the tip of the iceberg.

Current Status and Moving Forward

With the change in administration, the political dynamics have shifted dramatically. The same institutions that once persecuted these families are now under new leadership that appears sympathetic to their cause. Multiple avenues are being pursued to bring their concerns directly to President Trump.

John Solomon has agreed to speak personally with President Trump about the issue. Brian Glenn, whom they met by chance at a studio, has committed to discussing it with Pam Bondi. Vince Haley's proximity to the Oval Office provides another direct channel. These multiple pathways suggest serious consideration at the highest levels.

The movement faces ongoing challenges, however. Several parents who spoke at the D.C. press conference faced immediate retaliation upon returning home. One attorney had school boards pressure his law firm to fire him. Others received new legal threats and harassment from superintendents.

Walker continues fighting for people like Jennifer from Sahuarita, who was imprisoned for five days during the height of the persecution. Getting criminal records expunged and media retractions remains an ongoing battle, even with official acknowledgment that the targeting was wrong.

The Importance of Accountability

The movement's emphasis on accountability extends beyond individual justice to broader principles about the rule of law. As Alexander Solzhenitsyn warned, allowing perpetrators to escape into old age without consequences teaches children that there's no justice in the land, making such a country a terrible place to live.

Recent admissions and apologies from officials ring hollow without concrete consequences. The National School Board Association apologized for their letter. Merrick Garland admitted his memo went too far. But admissions without accountability amount to meaningless gestures.

Walker has begun naming names publicly, arguing that public shaming and resignation demands are necessary for those who crossed constitutional lines. The targeting of parents went so far beyond acceptable behavior that continued employment in positions of authority becomes untenable.

The goal isn't retribution but vindication - ensuring this never happens again by demonstrating clear consequences for constitutional violations. Without accountability, the same people retain the power to target the next group of parents who dare speak up for their children.

A Broader Reckoning

This parental rights movement connects to broader questions about government overreach during the COVID era and beyond. Governor Gavin Newsom's recent admission that beach closures and playground shutdowns were mistakes represents the kind of acknowledgment that movements like this help generate.

The systematic targeting of parents reveals how quickly constitutional protections can erode when political opposition is criminalized. The collaboration between federal agencies and local administrators shows how weaponization cascades through different levels of government.

But the movement also demonstrates the power of persistent advocacy and documentation. By compiling stories, building coalitions, and refusing to accept that targeting was normal or acceptable, these families have forced accountability onto the political agenda.

Their success in gaining access to decision-makers and generating policy proposals shows how grassroots movements can achieve influence even when facing institutional opposition. The key appears to be combining compelling personal stories with concrete policy solutions and political timing.

Confronting Educational Exploitation in Arizona

The fight for parental rights extends beyond COVID-era targeting to ongoing concerns about child safety in educational settings. Recent cases in Arizona demonstrate how inadequate prosecutorial responses to educational exploitation continue undermining child protection.

Laura Conover's Problematic Plea Agreements

Pima County Attorney Laura Conover's handling of cases involving minors reveals troubling patterns in prosecutorial priorities. Recent plea agreements suggest either insufficient resources for proper prosecution or deliberate softness on crimes against children.

Two recent cases illustrate the problem. Young conspirators in a murder plot received what amounts to slaps on the wrist through plea agreements. Despite hiding out and initially refusing to accept responsibility, their age - 16 and 18 - appeared to justify minimal consequences for conspiracy to commit murder.

More troubling is the case of a Marana teacher who systematically groomed a student for years. Originally charged with sexual exploitation of a minor, the charges were reduced to "attempted" sexual exploitation through plea agreement. This reduction occurred despite clear evidence of the teacher sending explicit photos to the student and demanding nude images in return.

The student explicitly stated he feared that refusing the teacher's demands would impact his grades - a textbook example of coercion under Arizona law. The teacher's position of trust should have enhanced penalties, not provided grounds for reduction.

The Pattern of Institutional Protection

These cases reveal how educational institutions and prosecutors can inadvertently create environments where exploitation flourishes. While Marana schools appropriately notified parents and removed the teacher, the prosecutorial response sends mixed messages about consequences.

The contrast is stark: possession of child pornography typically carries severe penalties, yet actually exploiting a child in a position of trust receives reduced charges. This disparity undermines the very protections that positions of trust laws were designed to provide.

Earlier cases establish the pattern. A guidance counselor who maintained a sexual relationship with a 15-year-old received only one year imprisonment through plea agreement. This same counselor had organized a TUSD drag show for students, raising additional questions about boundary violations.

The message to potential predators becomes clear: educational settings provide opportunities for exploitation with minimal consequences. The message to students and parents is equally problematic: your safety is not our priority.

TUSD's Broader Challenges

Tucson Unified School District faces enrollment challenges that connect directly to these safety concerns. The district has lost approximately 4,000 students, and cases like these provide clear explanations for parental flight.

When guidance counselors can maintain inappropriate relationships with students and teachers can systematically groom children with minimal consequences, parents naturally seek alternatives. The connection between institutional protection of predators and enrollment decline should concern any educational leader.

The district's promotion of controversial content, including drag shows organized by the same counselor later convicted of exploitation, suggests institutional judgment problems that extend beyond individual cases. Parents evaluating educational options naturally consider these patterns.

Prosecutorial Priorities and Resource Allocation

Conover's plea agreement patterns raise questions about prosecutorial priorities and resource allocation. If insufficient attorneys prevent proper prosecution of child exploitation cases, county supervisors should address staffing immediately.

Alternatively, if these plea agreements reflect deliberate policy choices about charging and sentencing, voters deserve clarity about those priorities. Child exploitation cases should receive full prosecutorial attention regardless of political considerations.

The contrast between harsh rhetoric about protecting children and lenient plea agreements for actual exploitation creates credibility problems that extend beyond individual cases. Consistency between stated values and prosecutorial action matters for public trust.

The Broader Context of Child Protection

These prosecutorial patterns occur within a broader context of institutional failures to protect children. The systematic targeting of parents who raised concerns about educational policies removed important voices from oversight processes.

When parents who question institutional decisions face government targeting while predators within institutions receive minimal consequences, the message about priorities becomes unmistakable. Institutions matter more than individuals, and questioning authority is more dangerous than exploiting children.

This dynamic creates environments where exploitation can flourish because potential whistleblowers fear retaliation while actual predators expect protection. Breaking this cycle requires accountability at multiple levels.

Walking for Freedom: Britney Higgs and the Fight Against Human Trafficking

The fight for justice extends beyond parental rights to confronting one of humanity's most horrific crimes. Britney Higgs exemplifies the kind of radical commitment required to address human trafficking - walking 580 miles from Montana to Denver with a baby goat named Freedom to raise awareness and funds for survivor recovery.

From Filmmaker to Frontline Advocate

Higgs' journey into anti-trafficking work began in 2013 as an entrepreneur running a film company with her husband. Documentary projects with NGOs introduced her to the scope of human trafficking, but a cryptic email changed everything.

"We need to go over and play in the sandbox," the email read, requesting a yes or no response before deletion. The "sandbox" turned out to be northern Iraq in 2015, where ISIS had displaced hundreds of thousands and was trafficking women and children through their ranks.

Despite having two small boys at home, Higgs found herself on a plane to Iraq as part of a team helping local militia reintegrate survivors into their families. The experience revealed the gap between rescue and freedom that would define her life's work.

"Even though she was rescued out of her situation and she was physically free, she said I wish I would have just died in captivity because there is nothing left for me to give," Higgs recalls of one survivor. That moment crystallized the understanding that rescue is only the beginning.

Building Comprehensive Care Programs

The Her Campaign emerged from recognizing that traditional anti-trafficking efforts focus heavily on rescue while neglecting the lengthy healing process survivors require. Higgs' programs address this gap through comprehensive residential care that treats trauma's impact on body, mind, and spirit.

Current facilities in Billings and Denver provide 24/7 staffing with teams of clinicians, medical staff, nursing, and highly trained trauma-informed residential coaches. The programs are becoming Medicaid-licensed facilities to provide the highest level of care for survivors' complex needs.

"When these women are stepping out of trafficking they have acute mental illness, acute drug addiction issues, substance abuse issues," Higgs explains. The comprehensive approach recognizes that trafficking's damage requires medical, clinical, and spiritual intervention working together.

The statistics underscore the need. With only an estimated 2,500 beds nationwide specifically serving sex trafficking survivors and 22,000 survivors identified in 2024 alone, capacity falls dramatically short of need. Without safe places to go, an estimated 80% of survivors return to trafficking situations.

The Reality of Recovery

Higgs' decade of experience provides realistic perspective on recovery's challenges. "Healing is not linear," she emphasizes. "The path of healing is not a destination, it is a constant journey as we are walking this out with the Lord."

Her programs maintain an 87% graduation rate from emergency stabilization to long-term care - a remarkable achievement given trafficking's devastating impact. But success stories exist alongside heartbreaking setbacks, including survivors who relapse into drugs after years of sobriety or choose to return to trafficking despite intensive support.

"I have begged, I have been on my knees crying and begging and saying please don't go back, please don't go back to that trafficking situation, and yet there's still a pull where they're like I have to," Higgs shares about the most difficult moments.

Over 250 survivors have gone through her emergency stabilization programs, with many successfully reintegrating into society, holding jobs, becoming mothers, and fulfilling dreams that trafficking had stolen. These successes sustain the work through inevitable setbacks.

The 580-Mile Journey

The current fundraising walk from Montana to Denver represents both practical need and symbolic commitment. The $580,000 goal will expand capacity from 8 to 22 beds at the Billings location while supporting program sustainability.

Walking with Freedom the goat serves multiple purposes - animal therapy is integrated into their programs, the goat draws positive attention to a heavy topic, and the journey itself mirrors survivors' healing process. "I do feel like he's asking me to walk alone not only to prepare me for the next season but really to just help me understand further what suffering looks like," Higgs explains.

The middle portion of the journey through Wyoming's wilderness provides isolation that mirrors survivors' experience. Physical breakdown, heat, and loneliness create understanding of the suffering and persistence required for healing.

Daily videos document the journey on social media at @hercampaign and @brittanyhiggs, allowing supporters to follow along while raising awareness about trafficking's scope and survivors' needs.

Prevention Through Awareness

Beyond caring for survivors, Higgs emphasizes prevention through community education. Most people lack basic knowledge about trafficking indicators, missing opportunities for identification and reporting.

Resources like iamOnWatch.org help communities understand what trafficking looks like in schools, workplaces, and neighborhoods. Better identification leads to improved data about trafficking's scope and more targeted intervention efforts.

The campaign aims to expand resources nationwide wherever need is greatest, leveraging the team's decade of experience developing effective protocols. Sustainability planning ensures programs can continue operating without constant fundraising crises.

The Spiritual Dimension

Higgs frames her work explicitly in spiritual terms, viewing survivors as carrying special destiny despite - or because of - their trauma. "When we have gone through the worst of the worst, when the enemy has targeted us and you have gone through the most atrocious evils that our world can throw at you and you overcome that, the victorious crown on the overcomer is something that changes our world."

This perspective provides both motivation and framework for understanding trafficking's evil and recovery's potential. Survivors who heal and reclaim their purposes become "leaders of our world" who can "make it look like heaven."

The integration of clinical excellence with spiritual care reflects this understanding. Programs maintain high medical and therapeutic standards while creating space for spiritual healing and purpose discovery.

Supporting the Mission

The Her Campaign operates as a grassroots effort with supporters funding their own participation. Higgs and her team pay their own travel expenses and receive no salaries for advocacy work, reflecting genuine commitment rather than professional obligation.

Financial support enables bed expansion and program sustainability, but awareness and community engagement matter equally. Following the journey, sharing survivor stories, and learning trafficking indicators all contribute to the broader mission.

The expected August 10th arrival in Denver will mark one milestone in a longer journey toward comprehensive trafficking response. Like the survivor healing process itself, building adequate infrastructure requires persistent commitment over time.

The connection between Higgs' physical journey and survivors' healing journey provides powerful metaphor for understanding both the difficulty and possibility of recovery. Walking 580 miles with a baby goat may seem impossible, but so does healing from trafficking's devastation - yet both happen through sustained commitment and community support.