The American Liberty Tour speakers discussed activism and action, as well as the courage to stand defiant and fearless in the face of the media’s continuing smear campaign.

We met a young college student who quietly told us before the meeting that she is a conservative. She was excited to meet like-minded folks, particularly because so many of the tour members, myself excluded of course, are her age. At first, she balked at attending the meeting. But she reconsidered and ended up attending and staying for the entire town hall. Even on college campuses, even among the students, the movement to reject what is happening to our country grows daily.

Though the meeting was our smallest so far, about 40 people, it was still an inspiring example of the cross-section of America that is out there yearning to be heard. Last night they were heard, and they were armed with information they can use to continue to be heard going forward. And really, that’s what it’s all about, isn’t it?

- Caleb

The people who attended the rally are the heart and soul of this tour. Grandparents, children, veterans, activists, and some who were out for their first political activity.

Salina is smmall-town USA exemplified. The people I spoke to care very deeply for what is going on nationally, but also locally. The level of engagement I’m seeing at every tour stop is breathtaking. People are making petitions, they’re getting hundreds of signatures, and they are delivering them to those in charge. And to those who are in charge, you better pay attention to those petitions. This is only the beginning.

Tomorrow we’ll have some pictures and video from the rally, as well as the overdue videos from the Sacramento and Salt Lake City rallies, internet-willing. You’ll have a chance to see what I’ve seen: Americans who are unafraid, who are not intimidated, and who are not going to be silenced. And if that describes you, too, then I hope you’ll join us at our next stops. Check the top of the page for cities and dates.

Today the American Liberty Tour participated in a huge 9/12 rally in downtown Salt Lake City, Utah, in the shadow of the state capitol building. (That’s figuratively speaking regarding shadow, the sun was merciless.)

What a crowd! We estimate there were about 2500 patriots at peak attendance. The signs were great (pics below the fold), the mood was up, and the sense of something big was in the air.

As many of you may know from my work at Redstate.com, I’ve attended my fair share of protests the last few years; mostly left-wing protests that I was covering. Well I can tell you that yesterday’s rally was different from every single one of those leftist protests right from the start. First we said the Pledge of Allegiance, then we listened to a fantastic rendition of the Star-Spangled Banner. The reaction of the crowd to the national anthem would have put a hard lump in the throat of any true patriot. We were also treated to a recitation, from memory, of the Declaration of Independence. If you haven’t read it recently, I suggest you do so soon. Eerily relevant.

We met a lot of great people at the rally, and many of them attended our training and town hall meeting later in the day (watch our youtube channel for video). I met parents who proudly told me their children could recite major portions of the Constitution from memory. I met veterans who teared up during the pledge and shook hands with the conviction and camaraderie that comes with knowing you are among fellow patriots. I met men and women, black and white, young and old. I spoke with those, like me, privileged to be born here, and those, like my grandmother, proud to have earned their citizenship. Without fail, they knew why they were here.

They came for the same reason I did. For the same reason you did. They are tired of the assault on our liberty. They are angry at an irresponsible, unresponsive, unaccountable federal government, they reject the cries for even more massive spending and entitlement, and they refuse to be belittled or marginalized by an increasingly tyrannical “progressive” left in this country.

That dictatorial left and their media familiars have chosen to mock and belittle those who attended 9/12 events, as has the White House. They snort derisively about insurance company profits (ignoring that insurance companies are advocating for Obamacare), they sniff haughtily about racism, extremism, or conspiracy theorists (forgetting that they’ve yet to clean their own house), or they simply pretend they don’t know who we are at all.

White House officials on Friday professed to know nothing of the planned demonstrations. White House Press Secretary Robert Gibbs queried reporters about the planners and their issues. “I don’t know who the group is,” he said with a shrug.

That’s the word from the President. He doesn’t know who the 2 million people protesting across the country really are. Well I do, Mr. President.

AMERICANS!

Frankly, I’m not too surprised that the Washington establishment doesn’t know who we are. I’m not too surprised that the mainstream media doesn’t know who we are. I’m not at all surprised President Obama doesn’t know who we are. We’re everyday, patriotic Americans, a group he really isn’t all that familiar with. None of them are.

Well I can only say one thing to those who confess to not knowing us. After yesterday, you better get to know us. And fast. The sleeping giant is awakening. Yesterday we showed our numbers and our lack of fear. Get used to it.

Tomorrow, we drive to Fort Collins, Colorado and then on to Denver. We’re going to see more patriots along the way. And at every stop, we’re going to empower them to keep speaking, strong and loud. Get used to us, liberal America. We aren’t going anywhere. You can’t silence us anymore.

Defiance. Not fear.

See below for a few of the dozens of photos I took yesterday, and check the full journal for more notes and on the ground experiences.

– Caleb

You can find me on Twitter at @CalebHowe. I’ll be tweeting all day and hopefully I’ll be periodically uploading video as well.

This is OUR day, guys. Let’s make it count.

A few weeks ago, I started the hashtag #iamthemob.  It was an opportunity for us to fight back against the media narrative about just who and what those who oppose Obamacare really are.  The tag exploded and quickly became one of the most popular conservative hashtags on Twitter. Now we are on the American Liberty Tour, and one of the most important aspects of the trip is all of us, conservative activists and concerned citizens, figuring out just what to do next. That’s what the new hashtag is all about: what comes next.

Sam Adams once said “It does not take a majority to prevail… but rather an irate, tireless minority, keen on setting brushfires of freedom in the minds of men.” That is powerful imagery, and so descriptive of what the grassroots movement, both online and offline, really does.

Liberty is a fragile thing. Its flame can be extinguished by the cold howling of the winds of a change toward statism. But if those who cherish the freedom and liberty that are the essential and fundamental basis of the great American philosophy get out there and fan the flames then that which is quintessentially American can be restored. The little light that shines grows, and like a brushfire, the ideas and excitement of those who take action can spread fast and hot. We’ve all seen it this year in the many tea parties, the town hall protests, and the 9/12 movement. The burning desire for liberty in this nation is not extinguished, nor can we let it be. The torch held aloft by the Statue of Liberty represents that flame, that bright burning light of freedom the warmth of which the nations of the world have long yearned to feel.

So starting today, when I write about or participate in activism, I’m tagging it #brushfire, to symbolize our hope that the message of liberty will spread and grow.