Youngkin Chooses Book Banning “Activist” As Final Surrogate to Pander to Far-Right, Anti-Science Crowd

From 314 Action:

Youngkin Chooses Book Banning “Activist” As Final Surrogate to Pander to Far-Right, Anti-Science Crowd

In contrast, 314 Action’s ad targets the gubernatorial candidate for refusing to disavow dangerous extremists harassing school boards

PHILADELPHIA — Yesterday, Republican gubernatorial candidate Glenn Youngkin released one of the final ads of his campaign, which highlights a far-right activist well known for her attempts to ban Beloved, Toni Morrison’s Pulitzer Prize-winning book about the devastating effects of slavery, in Virginia schools. 

In contrast, this ad is set to air days after 314 Action launched an ad campaign focusing on Youngkin’s refusal to condemn the dangerous, anti-science conspiracy theorists — like this “activist” — whose vitriol has led to violence and dangerous behavior at school board meetings in Virginia and across the country. 314 Action’s ad can be seen here.

“In the final days of his campaign, Glenn Youngkin’s true colors have become obvious. He’s doubled down on extreme-right virtue signaling and conspiracy theory nonsense. He’s chosen someone famous for banning a book about slavery to be his last campaign surrogate.” said Joshua Morrow, 314 Action executive director. “We are proud at 314 Action to stand with our network of six million supporters in opposition to Youngkin’s anti-science rhetoric, and make it clear that Virginia is no place for those who put politics over the safety of parents, students, and communities.” 

These ads are part of 314 Action’s $10 million nonpartisan advocacy campaign for the 2021-2022 cycle, which is focused on issues critical to the science community, including climate change, COVID-19 response and future pandemic research, reproductive justice, gun violence prevention, and voting rights.

In addition to Virginia, 314 Action’s ad campaign focuses on six governors or gubernatorial candidates whose support for anti-science policies have led to violence and abusive rhetoric at school board meetings in their states and across the country:

• Gov. Greg Abbott (Texas)
• Gov. Ron DeSantis (Florida)
• Gov. Doug Ducey (Arizona)
• Gov. Brian Kemp (Georgia)
• Gov. Kim Reynolds (Iowa)
• Glenn Youngkin (Virginia)

The script of the ad is as follows:

Fanatical protesters wreaking havoc — disrespecting police, bullying and threatening local school boards. 

TV CLIP #1: “We know who you are!”

The violent fanatical right — driven by anti science conspiracies. 

TV CLIP #2: “All the schools boards — these are demonic entities”

TV CLIP #3: “Your children’s children will be subjugated.”

Republican leaders are dangerously silent as the violent fanatical right rages.

Call on Glenn Youngkin to stand with science and reject right wing violence.

Paid for and authorized by 314 Action.

In 2022, 314 Action will aim to spend $50 million to elect scientists across all levels of government, with initial targets of seven U.S. Senate races, forty U.S. House races, and twenty-one statewide races.

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314 Action is powered by a grassroots community of over six million people working to elect scientists, doctors, and STEM professionals who will use science and facts to address our most pressing issues like climate change and health care. In 2018 and 2020, we played a pivotal role in flipping the U.S. House of Representatives and the U.S. Senate, electing eleven Democratic scientists to federal office, as well as over 100 to state and local offices. In 2021 and 2022, 314 Action will continue working to elect science leaders and defeat climate deniers in Congress and legislatures across the country, as well as advocate for issues critical to the science community, from environmental justice, to voting rights, to reproductive justice, and beyond.