Protests at St. John’s, then and now

Yesterday the St. John’s Church Foundation celebrated the 250th anniversary of Patrick Henry’s “Give me liberty, or give me death” speech delivered at Richmond’s St. John’s Church during the second Virginia Convention in 1775. In the afternoon, following the parish’s ordinary Sunday worship service, the Foundation delivered three formal reenactments of the convention with Henry’s speech, performed by its regular staff of costumed actors to sold-out crowds. Filmmaker Ken Burns attended the first reenactment at 1:30pm, along with Governor Glenn Youngkin, and Virginia 250 honorary chair Carly Fiorina, all of whom gave formal remarks in the church. The eyes of the world focused on the event, with coverage in the Washington Post and beyond, as the reenactment served as one of the formal kickoffs to the upcoming 250th commemorations of the American Revolution more broadly.

Many of the pleasantries and earnest reenactments heard inside the church that afternoon were punctuated by the sounds of anti-Trump and anti-Youngkin protesters who had assembled across the street. A “250 Years of No Kings in America” protest in Patrick Henry Park on Broad Street drew roughly 300 to 400 attendees, timed to coincide with the governor’s visit and the media’s coverage of the reenactment. Two colorful figures wore outlandish Trump and Youngkin costumes, respectively. There were many American flags, honking cars, and signs protesting tyranny, authoritarianism, fascism, discrimination, gun violence, and corruption. Dozens of the protesters entered the churchyard where they walked among fair-like tables representing historic sites across the commonwealth. After the first reenactment ended, when Governor Youngkin and his wife exited the church, protesters followed him to his car. To his credit, Youngkin made light of it all and offered a statement affirming citizens’ rights to peaceful protest.

It was indeed a peaceful and lively gathering, and it gave a greater sense of urgency to the place of the American past in today’s world, beyond the pat speeches heard inside.