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On Tuesday, April 19th, we had a COS Rally at the Minnesota Capitol and the presenters were all awesome and the crowd was energized.

The event was opened with a speech by local Turning Point USA representative Maddie Lemonds (above), who shared the story of her journey toward developing, and even being courageously proud of, a love for America.

Pastor Sue Davidson gave the invocation and U.S. veteran and COS District Captain, Michael Casey, led us in the Pledge of Allegiance. Legislative Liaison, Steve Davidson, gave us a history lesson: The date of the Rally, April 19th, was the very same day of the first Revolutionary War battle on the Lexington Green – when there was that fateful “Shot heard around the World.”

Then Steve invited up any MN legislators who wanted to speak, joking about how it is dangerous to be giving them control of the microphone, because they could hog the microphone from that point going forward – and we would end up with a “Run-Away” Rally which didn't remain true to its original commission.

Thankfully, Steve's (pretended) fears about legislators running amok didn't come to fruition, and things remained peaceful and orderly, instead. But could it have run away? Think it through once. Could a handful of state legislators have steered the Rally away from its intended purpose, while 100 onlookers expecting a Rally just blindly followed along? Would no one object to the proceedings?

I guess there was never any real danger for the Rally to run away, after all. A Convention of States will be like that, too. As Prof. Robert Natelson has conclusively shown, interstate conventions, just like courts of law, have a set of historically-established – and legally adjudicated – rules of order.

Any attempted transgressions at a Convention of States will be fully transparent, and also traceable to the personal actions of named individuals. People who do not intend to “play by the rules” would not be able to remain anonymous so as to avoid accountability for their actions.

Let's remember that, by the time that the convention is called, a super-majority of states would have all signed on to the exact same intention. It is ridiculous to think they'd all miraculously look the other way, while someone attempted to usurp “their” convention.

When interstate support for something is THAT strong, you'd risk your reputation, your career, and maybe even your freedom, if you tried to thwart it.

First up to the microphone was Senator Andrew Matthews, the chief author of the COS resolution in the MN Senate. Then came Rep. Dale Lueck, followed by Rep. Jerry Hertaus, followed by Rep. Duane Quam, followed by Sen. Mark Koran, followed by Rep. Cal Bahr, followed by Sen. Torrey Westrom, followed by Rep. Steve Drazkowski.

Each of these speakers was phenomenol in laying out what is at stake and how there is hope for a solution.

Then Steve took the microphone and gave an educational presentation about the details involved in the convention process, and how there are procedural safeguards which have been in use in every interstate convention.

Then Steve introduced the keynote speaker, our own COS president, Mark Meckler himself! Here is Mark having a “Convention of States pow-wow” with the Minnesota legislators prior to the event:

Mark gave a heartfelt and insightful speech with a segway to Captain Levi Preston, who had fought in the 1775 Battle of Concord – when British regulars tried, and failed, to take the armory there.

In an interview in 1842, Judge Mellon Chamberlain asked Preston if he fought due to the Stamp Act, the Tea Tax, the oppressions felt on this side of the Atlantic, or due to being inspired by the theorists of liberty who wrote extensively back then.

After saying “no” to all of the above, Mark paraphrases the final question Chamberlain asked of Preston:

Why would you go out and risk your life? You were a farmer, you were married, you had children, you're not a soldier.

And then Mark went on:

Preston says, and expresses, what I think is the most succinct theory of the American political idea during the revolution – and frankly, ever since – that I have ever heard in my entire life. He says: “Son, when we went out to face them redcoats, we meant only one thing: We had always governed ourselves, and we always intended to. Them redcoats, they intended that we shouldn't.”

At the Capitol that day was the first time I had ever been there to hear that story as told by Mark in person, and it was powerful: Preston's two-sentence answer sums up “self-governance” in a nutshell!

Here's a candid photo of some of the wily characters who were largely responsible for bringing this event together and for making it such a success:

To view the recording of the Rally, you can click here. Note: There were some sound issues with some muffling and echoing in the recording in the beginning, but they clear up after the first 25 minutes or so.

Ahlman’s Lucky Lady Gun & Knife Show
When: Saturday and Sunday, May 21st (9 AM - 5 PM) and 22nd (9 AM - 3 PM)
Where: 9525 230th St. W., Morristown, MN 55052

St. Cloud Town Hall
When: Thursday, May 26th, begins at 6:30 PM
Where: Great River Regional Library, Mississippi Rm 106, 1300 W. St. Germain St., St. Cloud, MN 56301

Brooklyn Center Town Hall
When: Wednesday, June 1st, begins at 6:30 PM
Where: Brookdale Library, 6125 Shingle Creek Parkway, Brooklyn Center MN 55430

Burnsville Town Hall
When: Wednesday, June 15th, begins at 6:30 PM
Where: Burnhaven Library, 1101 County Rd 42 W, Burnsville, MN 55306

One of the most powerful tools of inspiration is the testimonial of a fellow citizen. Hearing their story, told in their own words, can be moving and give a sense of camaraderie in the fight for freedom.

Because of the plain logic of the merit of holding a Convention of States, even a kid can figure it out. Check out this video from a recent COS hearing in the Maryland Legislature for some inspiration: Brave 10-year-old testifies on behalf of Convention of States in Maryland

Our Mission: To build a strong, engaged army of self-governing, grassroots activists.