The rally, held on the steps of the capitol building in Raleigh, was attended by about 200 people, according to USA Today. I arrived early with my wife and two daughters, and we met our Raleigh CP contact, Art Huckins. We each began displaying the large posters we made for the event. Some of the slogans were:
- Righteousness exalteth a nation
- A godless nation cannot remain free
- Decalogue or decadence
Additionally, we had a poster with the CP name, motto, 800 number, website and logo on it. We received many comments on the posters; several people even wrote done the slogans. We met a man who had a simple sign reading "Jesus Saves." He is at downtown Raleigh locations on a regular basis witnessing to people. Interestingly, we met several people from Alabama who were not part of the caravan, but were a shadow of the caravan, traveling with it from its beginning all the way to DC.
When the rally was about to get under way, my wife got my attention and said that someone had called for area clergy and community leaders to come forward. I grabbed the CP poster and went to one of the men (it turned out to be the executive director of Grassfire.Net) and asked if there were a call for clergy and leaders. He then asked me to stand along with others on one side of the podium. So, there I was, holding a CP poster with bold letters advertising our party, in front of a lineup of TV cameras and crew as well as 200 people -- prime attention in our state for the CP.
After kicking off the rally with introductory remarks, the second speaker, before saying very much, pointed over in the crowd to my wife and girls and said, "This is what it's all about, right here. This says it all." As he motioned for them to come forward, they were asked to stand up along the other side of the podium, displaying the three slogans listed above. All the camera crews focused their attention there. It was unbelievable!
The remarks by all the speakers at the rally were stirring and were received with applause, shouts of "Amen," and other signs of approval. Present behind the podium and speakers was a group of students from a Christian school, holding Ten Commandments signs. We heard the testimony of the monument's craftsman, who testified that he had prayed for five years that he might be able to use his sculpting and artistic talents for the honor and glory of the Lord. His prayers were answered when he was asked to design the monument which later stood in the judicial building in Montgomery. The group sang God Bless America. A boy, nephew of rally organizer Mark Schenck, recited the Ten Commandments from memory. We then heard them recited in the Hebrew by the boy's father, Mark's twin brother - it was both beautiful and moving. We also were blessed with the playing of an authentic shofar to dismiss the assembled group.
Both before and after the rally itself, we were able to talk with people about the Constitution Party, get literature into their hands, and get signatures for ballot access.
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