Over 54,000 63,000 Rally for Religious Freedom!
Posted by Eric Scheidler (March 26, 2012 at 7:26 am)
Update: More Rally Captains have reported their head counts. See revised numbers below.
When my Rally co-director Monica Miller and I originally conceived the Stand Up for Religious Freedom Rally, I was hoping for 50 cities to sign on. Monica, more optimistically, hoped for 100.
We launched the project with 30 cities, which quickly grew to 50, then 80, then 100. In the final week before the Rally, we topped 140, with cities coming on board up to the last minute. The final tally was 143 cities from Portland, Maine to Honolulu, Hawaii.
By that time the buzz surrounding the Rally was so great that I began to speculate that we just might top 10,000 participants across the country.
How little did I know what God had in store for this historic day!
With 106 118 122 134 54,039 57,103 58,455 61,237 63,005 63,945!
Here’s the city-by-city tally. If you have numbers for a Rally city not listed here, please let me know in the comments.
Albuquerque 400
Allentown 600
Anchorage 50
Ann Arbor 1,500
Athens 200
Atlanta 800
Austin 400
Baltimore 350
Baton Rouge 500
Bayside 80
Bel Air 165
Billings 60
Birmingham 500
Bismarck 730
Boerne 57
Boise 150
Boston 350
Bryan 253
Buffalo 1,000
Charleston 88
Charlotte 500
Charlottesville 200
Cheyenne 100
Chicago 2,500
Cincinnati 1,000
Cleveland 1,500
Colorado Springs 200
Columbus 300
Concord 210
Corpus Christi 300
Dallas 800
Davenport 150
Dayton 200
Del Rio 100
Denver 500
Detroit 1,000
Dover 7
Duluth 200
El Paso 500
Ellicott City 250
Erie 140
Eugene 200
Evansville 500
Fairbanks 50
Fargo 100
Flint 400
Fort Lauderdale 350
Fort Wayne 350
Freeport 260
Front Royal 200
Garden City 250
Germantown 225
Goshen 500
Grand Rapids 500
Green Bay 300
Greenville 88
Harrisburg 150
Hartford 600
Hauppauge 150
Honolulu 205
Houston 1,200
Howell 550
Indianapolis 700
Jackson 83
Jacksonville 800
Kalamazoo 300
Kansas City 250
Kenai 25
Lake Havasu 70
Las Vegas 20
Lexington 100
Lincoln 500
Los Angeles 600
Madison 500
Marion 108
Melville 150
Miami 500
Milwaukee 400
Minneapolis-St. Paul 2,200
Muncie 150
Murrieta 350
Nashville 500
New Braunfels 400
New Haven 200
New Orleans 850
New York City 900
Norfolk 300
Norwich 75
Ocala 250
Omaha 1,200
Orlando 850
Owensboro 300
Patchogue 200
Pensacola 210
Peoria 500
Phoenix 1,000
Pierre 55
Pittsburgh 500
Portland ME 300
Portland OR 200
Providence 220
Rapid City 80
Reading 130
Redding 200
Reno 350
Richland 100
Richmond 100
Roanoke 180
Rochester 600
Rockford 800
Sacramento 400
Saginaw 100
Salt Lake City 200
San Antonio 800
San Diego 2,000
San Francisco 1,000
Sarasota 1,200
Scranton 500
Seattle 800
Soldotna 8
South Bend 550
Southampton 50
Spokane 150
St. Cloud 400
St. Louis 200
St. Petersburg 250
Sterling 175
Stuart 120
Tacoma 500
Toledo 1,000
Traverse City 85
Trenton 800
Tucson 300
Tulsa 100
Uvalde 83
Valparaiso 250
Ventura 440
Walla Walla 100
Washington DC 2,000
Wichita 500
Williamsport 143
Winston-Salem 250
Columbus ohio had more than Cincinnati. To me it seemed like 1,500.
March 26th, 2012 at 11:04 am
Boston had 100, with great speaches and last minute effort.
March 26th, 2012 at 11:31 am
I wonder how the figure 850 for New Orleans was obtained. I only know of one location for the event in New Orleans and it took place during the lunch hour. I made a rough count before noon of 135 to 150, and later estimated the growth of the crowd to 250 to 300. I left just before 1pm as people were going back to work. A friend who came late just told me he thought there were 80 or 90; so I guess they kept leaving at the end of the lunch hour.
I didn’t detect anything in the local press about the event.
March 26th, 2012 at 11:31 am
We had between 300 and 400 in Sacramento. We have some great pictures as well, if you’d like them.
March 26th, 2012 at 12:04 pm
Jackson MS had 83 people attend, including Bishop Latino of the diocese of Jackson. We had one tv station channel 16 cover event, though didn’t see anything on news, says Roy. MS Public Broadcast (radio) came and interviewed speakers. The President of St. Dominic Catholic Hospital and 4 Dominican nuns also attended, as well as Fr. Mike O’Brien, pastor of St. Richard Catholic Church, Jackson. Buttons were a great hit. Sorry to be a little late with this, but left immediately after rally to drive to a silent weekend retreat!
March 26th, 2012 at 12:58 pm
I sent a text! In Bryan Texas had 253 attend. We also got great pictures and a wonderful full length video with great interviews with the crowd. Our local news did run the story at 6 pm that evening.
March 26th, 2012 at 4:01 pm
We had at least 500 folks for the Stand Up For Religious Freedom Rally in Milwaukee. See photos on my blog Salve Sancta Mater Dei at: http://salvematerdei.com/2012/03/25/stand-up-for-religious-freedom-rally/.
March 26th, 2012 at 4:03 pm
Hello! Fort Lauderdale ‘captain’ here! My report of 300 in attendance is a conservative figure. The general consensus is that 350 (at peak attendance) is more accurate. Because of our location..the crowd was spread out and ‘in flux’ so our counter had trouble and ended up with more of an estimate.
I wonder how I can contribute pictures to the website?
March 26th, 2012 at 4:13 pm
Tulsa, OK had 100 people. We had a beautiful day!
March 26th, 2012 at 5:21 pm
CWA of Tulsa, OK had 100 people. This is a second submit in case the first did not get thru. It was a beautiful day!
March 26th, 2012 at 5:23 pm
I attended my first rally here in Redding, CA. The weather held for us and the sun was out. I was surprised to see no more than 200 people assembled, organized by a Professor from a nearby college. He had it all together with a little bit of help from a colleague. An all denomination rally was cooperative and I would say quite successful. I would do it again for the same or similar reason.
March 26th, 2012 at 6:15 pm
Flint=500
March 26th, 2012 at 7:00 pm
Sacramento CA had a rally on 3/23/12 at the CA State Capitol building: 500 people attended. Noon to 1:00pm
March 26th, 2012 at 9:12 pm
Thanks for all the updates, folks!
I’m still waiting for numbers from places like Baltimore and Peoria, which I’m sure will boost the numbers. Can’t wait for that final, official count!
March 26th, 2012 at 10:06 pm
I understand that there were about 200 people at the Tucson rally (this article says 300) which included 5 who were obviously priests because of their collars or clerical robe and a couple of ministers. Tucson diocese has something like 75 parishes. So 75 pastors, maybe 75 associates, a bunch of retired priests, maybe 200 priests somewhere in the diocese. Math tells me that about 2.5% of potential priests attended the Tucson rally. Why didn’t the Bishop of Tucson attend? He was at a pre-season baseball game between the White Sox and the Dodgers! So is this Obama mandate really important to most clergy? Look at the numbers and tell me!
March 26th, 2012 at 11:42 pm
Despite late organization, we were thrilled that a faithful and obedient woman took up the call to leadership and organized a rally for Spokane, WA. We had 120-150 at the rally. Let me know if you would like pictures!
March 27th, 2012 at 8:34 am
Our Las Vegas, NV rally at the Federal Bldg had about 15 peoople. We wouldn’t have had a rally at all without our Christian brothers and sisters who organized it – much thanks and blessings to them!
March 27th, 2012 at 8:50 am
Our Omaha rally was beyond words – the planning, the speakers – including our archbishop George Lucas, and all who attended. Although the original plan was for only 1000 people, we (Jim Carroll – KVSS & myself) independently counted at least 2000 present. One speaker said, “Perhaps we should all send our guardian angels to Washington.” Wouldn’t that be great!
March 27th, 2012 at 11:50 am
Anchorage had 101 not
50.
March 27th, 2012 at 3:30 pm
its funny cause you want religous freedom but then you say that only people of your religon are going to heaven, or that gays/ woman don’t deserve equal rights
March 27th, 2012 at 4:17 pm
[…] • Over 54,000 61,000 … […]
March 27th, 2012 at 4:34 pm
Anaheim CA rally was 100 people.
March 27th, 2012 at 9:32 pm
I attended the rally in Peoria, the weather was beautiful. Bishop Jenky opened the ceremony, followed by another speaker and a girl who sang beautifully. I was very inspired by the attendance at the rally; nearly all young people, couples with young children, single young men and women; not the gray haired old ladies and diabled in wheel chairs the media has portrayed. Keep up the good fight, God bless!!
March 27th, 2012 at 10:49 pm
We in Ft. Lauderdale. Fl had over 350 , some from Palm Beach Diocese and Miami Diocese. We had excellent speakers with beautiful Religous Freedom t-shirts ( for only a $10.00 donation) and car magnet with Religious Freedom Our First Amentdment Ringht in Red White and Blue. What ever we can do to sppread the word.
March 28th, 2012 at 5:17 am
I blogged a little bit about the Washington DC Rally!
http://philwife.blogspot.com/2012/03/religious-freedom-rally-in-washington.html
March 28th, 2012 at 12:35 pm
wow! we are so happy that this national event brought so many people together in support of their faith , but my husband and i attended the san diego rally and unfortunately the estimated number of people ( 2000 ) is incorrect. i would guess that there were about 300 people max. i was disappointed in our city and our state. c’mon california catholics… STAND UP! BIG thanks to all the bishops and local churches who did show. channel 10 abc news covered the rally here.
March 28th, 2012 at 12:35 pm
Here in Pensacola I estimated 300 even though we had severe thunderstorms for over 5 hours before, during, and after the rally.
A friend and I got to the federal court house 1 hour before noon, in order to get a parking spot.
We prayed the rosaries while we waited in our truck for things to begin. About 10 brave Kinghts of Columbus men stood out in the storm at the point of where the small stage would later be set up.
At ten minutes to noon, out comes the small stage and sound system. Then out of the many cars parked downtown, man, woman, children, priests, and nuns emerged with umbrellas and raincoats.
They all wanted to let our President know we demand our religious freedom. We will not let anyone trample our religiou rights. We stood and listened as thunder clapped all around us. ( I remembered how the Blessed Virgin Mary came in a thunderstorm at Fatima ) I truly believe she was there with us at this rally.
Every priest present spoke, along with many other members of the crowd. We sang and we prayed. God is great and he’s on our side. Who can defeat us, if god is with us?
Let freedom ring.
Yours in Christ,
Bill Polakiewicz
March 29th, 2012 at 3:37 am
[…] villes des États-Unis. Pour cette première édition, les organisateurs avouent, sur leur site, qu’ils n’escomptaient, au départ, qu’une dizaine de milliers de participants dans une […]
April 4th, 2012 at 5:17 am
Praise the Lord for a great turnout! Now I pray someone will start a massive petition to the U.S. Bishops asking them to publicly repent for their sin of omission in teaching their flock about contraception and all moral issues. After reading the Cardinal Dolan interview in the WSJ wherein he acknowledges this failure, I feel hopeful they can and will do this and we will see Jesus’ Mercy flowing on this country. As one Baptist minister said at our rally in Greenville, SC – “It’s the salt’s fault!” – and it is.
April 4th, 2012 at 6:10 am
P.S. There were almost 500 people in Greenville, not 88 as listed above. Thanks and God bless!
April 4th, 2012 at 6:30 am
Several friends attended the Los Angeles rally — the enthusiastic crowd (largely Catholic & a few priets) was more like 200 not 600. Organized by the Abortion Survivors group headed by Jeff White (not Catholic). Guess the Archbishop, et al were attending the LA Religious Education Conf. that weekend. No endorsement from the Archdiocese but Fr. John Higgins, St. Raymond’s pastor, of Flash Mob fame, spoke powerfully. Many thanks to our local pro-life (multi-denomination)leaders. The Tidings published only a ntl news story on the rally.
April 11th, 2012 at 2:05 pm
Thanks to our eighty-five souls who braved the rain on Friday. We were lead in prayer by Fr. Libby from Holy Rosary Catholic Church in Cedar Michigan. Bishop Hebda had written a beautiful letter for our use, and was celebrating Holy Mass for the “cause” as we started our protest at noon in front of the busiest parkway in Traverse City. A Lutheran pastor and his wife stood side by side as unity in peaceful protest was in full bloom in Northern Michigan. In God’s Mercy, peace to all.
April 11th, 2012 at 3:13 pm
[…] month, over 63,000 Americans gathered at sites in 145 cities for a massive rally in protest of the […]
April 14th, 2012 at 11:00 am
[…] number of cities already on board for June 8 shows that the massive turnout seen at the first Nationwide Rally on March 23 was hardly a one-time […]
May 3rd, 2012 at 4:08 pm
[…] number of cities already on board for June 8 shows that the massive turnout seen at the first Nationwide Rally on March 23 wasn’t just a one-time […]
May 4th, 2012 at 3:12 pm
Visalia, CA held a rally from 10:00 am – 2:00 pm on Saturday May 19th on a busy intersection. Lot’s of thumbs up and honks of approval!!
May 23rd, 2012 at 8:43 pm
[…] number of cities on board for June 8 shows that the massive turnout seen at the first Nationwide Rally on March 23 was hardly a one-time […]
May 29th, 2012 at 2:57 pm
We are in! Our program stars a little later but last a longer.
We expect well over 200 “marchers” for our 4th of July Parade to support our Diocese “Fortnight for Freedom” Campaign.
We will start our events on July 21st with a holy hour @ our Catholic Church and continue until the 4th of July.
We have invited all the churches in our town of 25,000 to be in the parade with a banner and supporters.
We have purchased 2500 U.S. Flags to hand out!
May 30th, 2012 at 10:14 pm
[…] number of cities on board for June 8 shows that the massive turnout seen at that first Nationwide Rally on March 23 was hardly a one-time […]
June 5th, 2012 at 7:54 am
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June 7th, 2012 at 8:56 am
[…] number of cities on board for the June 8 Nationwide Rally shows that the massive turnout seen at that first Rally on March 23 was hardly a one-time […]
June 7th, 2012 at 1:38 pm
[…] number of cities on board for the June 8 Nationwide Rally shows that the massive turnout seen at that first Rally on March 23 was hardly a one-time […]
June 7th, 2012 at 6:13 pm
[…] number of cities on board for today’s Nationwide Rally shows that the massive turnout seen at that first Rally on March 23 was hardly a one-time […]
June 8th, 2012 at 7:51 am
This is a time for Prayers, Fasting, and Sacrifice to rebuke all evil. If you can’t make the rally, then I encourage you to do whatever prayers, fasting, and sacrifice you can do while at home, work, rest, or play. God Bless America thru the Immaculate Heart of Mary, Patroness of the Americas! Amen
June 8th, 2012 at 2:13 pm
Santa Ana, CA had over 1700.
June 8th, 2012 at 5:59 pm
My name is Keryn Moriyah. I am a Christian and a Songwriter, Producer of music and film. Just when Obama became the elected Democratic Candidate, I wrote a song for our nation, named, “An American Chorus”. This is a song that the whole nation needs to sing, about our root values, to keep Jehovah honored, life preserved, such as unborn babies, marriage, family and freedom, especially, religious freedom!
Please please help me get An American Chorus” out to our country! This is such a critical time and for a song to capture people of our country such as this song attempts to do, to cry out from the American spirit…a song to believe in. A song can give morality a boost, strengthen what we already know and bring courage in the presence of our enemies…think of the song, “Chester” in the time of the American Revolution. Think of the “Battle Hymn Of the Republic” at the time of the Civil War. What can one song do?
Check out the humble version of the song that may change a nation, “An American Chorus”:
http://www.facebook.com/pages/An-American-Chorus/282294921828018
Of the two videos posted, choose the one on the right with the picture of the fireworks…
June 10th, 2012 at 5:52 pm
Very impressive numbers. Congratulations!
October 9th, 2012 at 6:01 pm
Yankton, SD… We had 140
October 20th, 2012 at 5:10 pm