Porterville City Council Proclaims April as Parental Rights Month

The Porterville City Council has officially proclaimed April 2025 as “Parental Rights Month,” recognizing the sacred role of parents in raising and guiding their children and reaffirming their fundamental, inalienable rights as primary caregivers.

The proclamation, read by Mayor Greg Meister at the April 1st Council meeting, affirms that “parents hold the primary responsibility in their children’s upbringing” and that this right is deeply rooted in the Constitution and upheld by landmark Supreme Court cases, including Meyer v. Nebraska (1923), Pierce v. Society of Sisters (1925), Wisconsin v. Yoder (1972), and Troxel v. Granville (2000).

Quoting the proclamation, Mayor Meister stated:

“The City of Porterville recognizes the fundamental and inalienable rights of parents to raise, nurture, and educate their children according to their own beliefs, values, and traditions… The right of parents to make decisions regarding their children’s education, healthcare, and general welfare is paramount and must be protected from undue governmental interference.”

This proclamation was sponsored by Blessings of Liberty, a local nonprofit committed to protecting Faith, Family, and Freedom.

Why Parental Rights Matter – Especially in California

Parental rights are more than a legal doctrine; they are a moral imperative that safeguards children from becoming wards of the state and ensures that families remain the cornerstone of society. In California, where state agencies have been criticized for overreach, including removing children from loving homes, separating families, and in some cases failing to protect children from trafficking and abuse, the importance of these protections cannot be overstated.

California’s track record shows why this proclamation is critical. Families have been destabilized by state policies that undermine parental authority and insert bureaucrats into the private lives of children. From aggressive intervention in custody disputes to laws that marginalize parents in key decisions about their children’s education and health, the state has too often acted as if children are the property of the government rather than members of a family.

Reaffirming the Constitutional Standard

The United States Supreme Court has repeatedly affirmed that “the child is not the mere creature of the State” (Pierce, 1925) and that parents have a constitutionally protected right to direct the care, custody, and education of their children. This proclamation recognizes that these rights are not granted by government but are inherent and God-given, forming the foundation of a free and stable society.

Families are the bedrock of Porterville and of America. By proclaiming Parental Rights Month, Porterville is standing up for the principle that parents, not distant bureaucracies, are best equipped to raise children with strong moral values, resilience, and hope for the future.

A Call to Action

The City of Porterville calls on all residents, educators, faith leaders, and community members to join in celebrating Parental Rights Month and to work toward strengthening families, protecting children, and ensuring that parents remain at the heart of decisions affecting their children’s lives.

To read the proclamation in PDF, click here.

Click here to visit our dedicated page for Parental Rights.