Two outside groups affiliated with Trump also gave to the Fight for Schools PAC.ġ776 Action also published an over nine-minute video showing what the group says is Virginia parents pushing back on the teaching of critical race theory. Data from the Virginia Public Access Project shows that 1776 Action group contributed $10,000 this year to the PAC, one of their most recent top donors. The banner at the event featured logos of other similar groups, such as the Virginia-based political action committee Fight for Schools, which opposes the teaching of critical race theory. In September, 1776 Action's logo was featured at a Virginia event called the "Rally to Save Our Schools." Youngkin said during the rally that he would ban the teaching of critical race theory if he became governor. While Youngkin kept Trump at arm's length, the former president was outspoken in his support of the candidate – and for fighting critical race theory education. Republican Glenn Youngkin won the Virginia governor's race after campaigning, in part, on pushing to ban the teaching of critical race theory in the commonwealth's schools. Republicans have largely opposed the teaching of critical race theory, and it was a pivotal issue in the Virginia election.ġ776 Action took its name from Trump's own 1776 Commission, a White House initiative that called its work a "rebuttal of reckless 're-education' attempts that seek to reframe American history around the idea that the United States is not an exceptional country but an evil one." Conservatives have recently used the term to describe any anti-racism discussion or even any mention of race in schools. It is taught at the college and graduate school level. The group's rebranding came as new fronts in the conservative-liberal culture war erupted over teaching about race and racism in schools.Ĭritical race theory is an academic approach to studying the impact of racism. The organization, which says it is committed to stopping "anti-American indoctrination," is positioned to continue pushing its message during next year's midterms and then perhaps the 2024 race as conservative forces increasingly take aim at critical race theory. Records for 20 are not yet available. 1776 Action did not respond to CNBC's requests for comment before publication. The organization raised over $2.3 million from 2014 through 2019, according to their public 990 forms reviewed by CNBC. It targeted Hillary Clinton during the 2016 election and congressional Democrats during the 2018 midterms. Before this year, it was known as the American Legacy Center.