A Republic If You Can Keep It

My Thoughts on the Rescue The Republic rally I attended in DC

I was in LA last week for the Wisconsin-USC game, welcoming the Trojans into the Big Ten. It was a last-minute trip to visit my aunt, an alumna of USC Law School. I hadn’t seen my aunt and uncle in about a year, and I knew a day at the beach and an afternoon cheering on the Badgers would provide some much-needed rest after an eventful summer. This was a sentimental event for me, as my decision to attend Wisconsin was influenced by my experience at the Nebraska-Wisconsin game that welcomed the Huskers into the Big Ten.

Despite a surprisingly good first half for the Badgers, they fell apart in the second half and lost. Post-game, I headed to LAX to catch a redeye to DC for the 'Rescue the Republic' rally. I landed in DC before sunrise and checked into a hotel off the National Mall, hoping for an early check-in and some much-needed rest.

On that overcast day, after a three-hour nap, I walked down the National Mall toward the Washington Monument. As I reached the crest of the hill where the monument stands, I set my eyes on the rally just as 'The Star-Spangled Banner' began to play. I removed my hat, overcome by a profound love for our country and its people.

This was my first rally, and its significance cannot be overstated. The event's founder, and my favorite academic in exile, Bret Weinstein, described it as much more than just a rally; he likened it to Woodstock in the realm of political gatherings. The lineup, listed below, included many of my favorite politicians, journalists, comedians, authors, and intellectuals. It was chock-full of proponents of the Bill of Rights, personal freedom, the use of debate in the battle of ideas, and fierce opponents of government-sponsored censorship.