Statewide rallies and freedom gatherings marked the month of November, many of them taking place in or around the Conejo Valley.
At Hueneme Beach, several hundred rally-ready Americans attended the BRAVE (Businesses Representing American Values and Enterprises) Freedom rally on Nov. 6, spearheaded by Matt Brimigion, co-founder of BRAVE and owner of Mrs. Olson’s Coffee Hut. Booths lined the venue with patriots selling products ranging from peanut butter to wooden American flags. Inside, a full slate of speakers included local anesthesiologist Chris Rake, whose video of being escorted out of UCLA Medical Center went nationwide, Peggy Hall, L.A. firefighter John Knox, small business owners and citizens determined to fight vaccine mandates.
Peggy Hall, founder of The Healthy American, informed the assembled group of their rights against mandates.
“This entire hogwash, as I call it, has been implemented to oppress you, to enslave you and to make you believe that the government can tell you what to do,” Hall said. “The government doesn’t tell you what to do. Laws restrict your behavior, and a law is spelled L-A-W, and it’s not spelled M-A-N-D-A-T-E.”
Young activists also spoke up loudly for liberty.
“If we are to regain our freedom our forefathers fought for, we have to be able to give everything for this country like they did,” 17-year-old Richard Day told the crowd. “It is the strength and bravery in the face of adversity that has won us our freedom, and it will do so again. … It is an American tradition — in fact, it is an American conviction — to stand and fight against tyrannical rule.”
Lori Mills, vice president of the California Republican Assembly Simi/Moorpark District, called on conservatives to take action in the fight for freedom.
“We’re at war,” she said. “We need America First republicans to stop yelling at their televisions and put your boots on the ground.”
The event rolled on enthusiastically to nearly 10 p.m., with live music and dancing between speakers. Ralliers came with various topics motivating their passion. Jennifer Hubenthal, who says her dad was vaccinated and “isn’t walking anymore,” voiced concerns about “not being given the full information” concerning the vaccines. The mother of three — two of them school-age — expressed her desire for transparency and says she has actively joined freedom-supporting efforts in the area. She collected ballot-opposition signatures during the event.
“I feel like it takes one person to empower another, and I’m trying to do what I can,” the Army veteran told the Conejo Guardian. “This is important to me, and it’s important for the welfare of my kids and future generations. … These are our children. We should be allowed consent. … I also feel like it’s my duty. I love my country, and that shouldn’t be a bad thing to say. I mean, my mom’s from South America, and she came here so I had a better life, and I want to give that to my kids.”
Attendee Mat Gillespie told the Guardian he wishes to see change specifically in his Ventura City government and came to “support BRAVE and all of the people that are speaking. I value the same things they do.”
Noting that when he shares his beliefs on Facebook and Instagram, they sometimes get censored, Gillespie was especially interested to hear the speaker from a new social media outlet, Public Square.
Attendee Jenny Hansen has seen crime increase in her community at an alarming rate.
“We’re fed up,” she told the Guardian. “We’ve paid too much money in taxes not to be safe on our streets.”
Local resident Sheryl Moore especially enjoyed listening to the first responders.
“We need to protect our children and our fellow Americans from the tyranny in this state,” she said. “With more people rebelling from the tyranny, more and more people are coming out and following suit.”
Brimigion reported that 2 million people were watching the BRAVE event online at one point in the evening. A woman named Cheryl, who attended in person, encouraged the people of Ventura County to keep uniting for freedom.
“Continue to get organized so that we can accomplish what we see needs to be done,” she said. “When I come out, my cup is full, and I’m more confident and bold to tackle whatever I need to do for the coming week. It’s definitely been worth my time.”
