Photography by Ronald L. Harmon

Kansas City, Missouri, 2003 

Red and white flags unfurled against the blue of an afternoon sky creating a montage of color that gave a certain atmosphere to the political rally. Every Sunday at four o’clock, on a corner of the Country Club Plaza in Kansas City, Missouri, people gathered to either protest the running of the Federal government, or defend it. George W. Bush was campaigning again to try to win another four years in the White House. The large crowd had plenty of banners to complain, not only about the President’s issues, but about the war in Iraq, and the ever mounting number of people lost on both sides of the conflict. The crowd was dotted with mothers who held framed photos of their sons who were over in Iraq.   Veterans dressed in full regalia who had fought in previous wars demonstrated that President Bush was doing the right thing and the conflict in Iraq was indeed freeing a part of the world that had lived under the oppression of a maniacal dictator.  

In a couple of areas, long brown Formica tables lined with volunteers handed out free literature that told about both the pros or cons of the war, the government, or gave an abundance of printed facts about one or two of the issues about which they felt strongly. At different times of the afternoon, speakers stood on a make-shift stage and delivered an oratorio giving their own viewpoint of the issues. From time to time, small brass bands played rousing political songs as the late sun glinted off the golden sheen of their shiny instruments.  

I wanted to try to capture the excitement and color of the afternoon in a photo. That was a challenge in itself.  However, it was also fun to be part of a group of people who were out for an afternoon to fight for what they believed in and defend it. Just being there made me feel proud to be an American and to know that free speech and thought were still alive and well.  

ISO 100, F7, 1/250, Sun as back light