Dear Friends,
CLICK HERE TO LISTEN TO THE ENTIRE PROGRAM
(01:51) I get thrown out of a Trump rally, with Helen Schroeder – LISTEN
(17:31) Israel’s destruction of Palestinian agriculture, with Lee Tesdell – LISTEN
(36:25) Vaccine changes suggest broader, more sinister agenda, with Dr. MarkAlain Dery – LISTEN
(53:23) How cities benefit from urban agriculture, with Kathy Byrnes – LISTEN
Ed and Helen
When I learned that Trump was planning a rally in Clive this week, I felt I had to attend and make a statement. Kathy was unable to join me, as she’s recovering from foot surgery. But she designed a shirt for me that was bold, concise, and called out what might prove to be Trump’s most damaging liability: his near constant stream of lies.
My friend Helen agreed to join me and take photos. We arrived at the venue early and nabbed excellent seats.
The event dragged on and on (Trump was 90 minutes late), with the music so loud I had to put in earplugs — and a hat pulled down over my ears for added protection.
The hat doubled as my half-hearted, humorous effort to fit in as Helen and I entered the venue. And while I hope the Patriots win the Super Bowl, it should go without saying that I’m absolutely not serious about a Trump-Brady ticket in 2028.
Perhaps the biggest problem with me doing this action is that I’m quite well-known in political circles. I was reminded of that shortly after arriving when a security officer indicated with two fingers, first pointed at his eyes then at me, that he was watching me like a hawk.
I was ordered to leave shortly after displaying my shirt.
Just to the left of the officer in the above photo, sitting next to me, is acclaimed author Lyz Lenz. I didn’t recognize Lyz, and I don’t believe she recognized me. During the four hours we sat next to each other, we hardly spoke.
As the rally dragged on, I got the strong impression that Lyz wasn’t there to chug the MAGA cool-aid. That was later confirmed when someone shared with me this column she wrote about her rally experience: The reality TV president is losing his grip over reality.
She mentions me toward the end: “Just minutes into Trump’s speech, the man next to me, Ed Fallon, takes off his coat and reveals a shirt with the word LIAR scrawled in red Sharpie. He’s immediately escorted out by security.”
I was also pleased to see Romen Borsellino’s column on the rally include this reference to my action: “Activist Ed Fallon was inexplicably inside the event wearing a shirt that said LIAR, before he was kicked out. I wondered how he had managed to disguise himself alongside the deplorable MAGA crowd and slip in unnoticed. Then I saw that he was wearing a New England Patriots hat.”
Haha, funny guy.
I had hoped the crowd would sit down after Trump started speaking, at which point I’d remain standing so that, perhaps, Trump might see my shirt and compliment me on the color scheme. That never happened, of course.
I’m very grateful that Helen, sitting across the aisle from me a few seats down, was able to capture enough images to share the experience with others, especially the 2,000 or so true patriots who braved the cold to protest outside the venue.
Though it was an uncomfortable experience, I’m glad I did it. That said, here’s what I’d do differently next time:
— Not go. I’m too easily recognized. In fact, I’m now probably black-listed and won’t be allowed into another Trump event. (I’ve been to five — thrown out of two and arrested at one. I’m actually surprised I got into this one.)
— Organize 8 – 12 people to wear LIAR shirts.
— Enter the venue individually or two at a time.
— Get there really early to try to get seated behind the President. (I overheard someone say that organizers were randomly inviting people who arrived early to come up front.)
— Some protesters should have LIAR printed on the back of their shirts as well, for the benefit of the media staged at the rear of the venue.
— Rehearse the dickens out of the action.
There. I’ve laid out a strategy for a future action (you’re welcome, DHS), knowing that tens of thousands of Americans are doing important and creative things right now in this fight against tyranny.
Our numbers have grown over the past year. They need to continue to grow. Calling out Trump’s lies and the lies of many in his administration is, I believe, the strongest path to deepening the resistance.
In a recent column, Robert Reich, the former Secretary of Labor under President Bill Clinton, wrote this about a chance encounter with a stranger in a cafe:
“I’ve been a life-long Republican,” he said, “but the events of the past weeks have caused me to leave the Republican Party.”
“I’m happy to hear that,” I said with a smile and turned to finish my breakfast.
“I’m from New Hampshire, and many of my Republican friends are leaving the party, too,” he said. “Minneapolis was the last straw.”
I put down my fork and turned toward him again. “I assume you’re talking about the behavior of ICE and Border Patrol agents there, and the killings?”
“All terrible, of course,” he said, shaking his head. “But what really finished me were the lies — Noem. Miller, Bovino, Vance, Trump.” He frowned. “They all lied through their teeth. I saw the video! They’re a pack of liars.”
Thanks for reading, listening, and taking action.
Ed Fallon
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