by Guy Page
Friday night and Saturday morning, Vermonters packed into two of Vermont’s larger meeting venues to hear national experts talk about the threats from abroad (the Chinese government) and at home (infringement of Constitutional freedoms by leftist leaders.) These experts did more than frame the problem. They proposed grassroots solutions that inspired many attendees to consider taking action.
This week Vermont Daily Chronicle will provide coverage in depth about what the experts said, and how Vermonters are responding with organization and action. Today, below are selected photos, videos, and excerpts from a two-day event, the likes of which this generation of traditional, conservative Vermonters has never seen.
Friday night, an overflow, engaged crowd of almost 300 packed into the biggest ballroom available at Capitol Plaza in Montpelier to hear:
- biographer/radio show host Eric Metaxas, who on Thursday interviewed President Donald Trump and the next day would speak on the National Mall in Washington DC before 19,000 people and a national TV audience.
- China policy expert Gordon Chang, frequent guest on Fox News and other cable news networks.
- Will Johnson, radio show host and president of Unite America First.
The capacity crowd loved them all but saved their most enthusiastic stand, stomp, whistle and shout for CVU high school senior Ray Bowen of Shelburne, who belted out Lee Greenwood’s “God Bless the USA.” Video on my Facebook page here and to be downloaded soon – and worth the wait!
Scenes from Friday night, September 10, Capitol Plaza Ballroom:
Will Johnson (left) told how Democrats and Progressives, black and white, turned on him angrily after he developed more conservative views. At right, Lydia Chang said Communist China is putting her native city of Hong Kong under totalitarian government. Husband Gordon Chang described how the People’s Republic of China is developing influence in American culture, academia, business, and government.
Saturday September 11, Ignite Church, Williston:
“You’re obliged to give your life to be heroic against evil. And somehow that heroic manly virtue has gone out of the culture. We saw firefighters and policemen running into the buildings 20 years ago today.”
– Eric Metaxas
Will Johnson, United America First: what does Vermont need to know?
Editor – more detail and depth to come tomorrow!