Massachusetts Police Training Course Labels Liberty Group as Hate Group
Documents reveal that Massachusetts troopers tied to the “Hate Crimes” unit collaborated on a training course that labels the moms’ group, Moms for Liberty, as a “Hate Group.” Emily Tordisco, a trooper from the Massachusetts Police Hate Crime Awareness and Response Team (HART), is co-listed as an author on this course, which features a slideshow comparing Moms for Liberty to both white supremacist and antifascist groups. This information was first reported by the Daily Wire.
The Massachusetts Police Training Board oversees training for over 20,000 officers state-wide. Tordisco, who is also a member of the state’s Task Force on Hate Crimes, was appointed by Democratic Governor Maura Healey. Recently, Tordisco’s unit announced plans to enhance “data collection and information sharing” regarding hate crimes, develop police training in collaboration with local law enforcement, and pursue additional initiatives.
Charlie Misseager, who directs police and legislative affairs for Moms for Liberty, expressed concern over the training’s message. He noted that equating a parental rights group with neo-Nazis puts families at risk. He referenced a past incident in Washington, D.C., emphasizing the responsibility of those creating such training materials, like Tordisco, to avoid spreading dangerous and misleading narratives.
Requests for comment from the Police Training Committee went unanswered, and curriculum specialist Hannah Janfrido, another co-author of the training, was unavailable.
A 2025 presentation from Tordisco’s course, titled “Freedom and Hatred: Speech, Crime, Groups,” includes a list of local “hate groups” meant for law enforcement recognition. Moms for Liberty is mentioned alongside groups identified as violent leftists and white supremacists, such as the National Socialist Club. The training describes Moms for Liberty as a leading conservative movement targeting educational resources that discuss race and gender identities while assisting right-wing candidates in local elections.
This training cites the Southern Poverty Law Center (SPLC) as a reference point for identifying hate groups, a source that has previously labeled Moms for Liberty as “extremists.” Misseager criticized the SPLC for its perceived decline in credibility due to its definitions of extremism that target individuals and organizations differing from leftist ideologies.
The training course highlights that “hate speech” is protected under US law but does not address any violence allegedly committed by supporters of Moms for Liberty. Instead, it warns law enforcement of the activity of various “hate groups” in the state.
Future officers are advised to understand the symbols and missions of these groups to better recognize propaganda and hostile rhetoric within their communities. Governor Healey’s office has not responded to inquiries regarding this matter.
