U.S. Sen. Amy Klobuchar was welcomed by about 100 activists who rallied in Clarendon on Sunday, Sept. 26, to canvas homes around the county to get the word out that early voting had started. Klobuchar was there to knock on doors with members of the Arlington Democratic Party leadership, reminding voters that democracy has been severely tested in the past year and encouraging participation in the electoral process. Klobuchar spoke emotionally about the Jan. 6 assault on the U.S. Capitol and the subsequent inauguration two weeks later.
“I was there at 4 a.m., just me, Vice President Pence, and [Senator] Roy Blunt left in the Senate, with the two girls with the mahogany boxes walking over the broken glass. … And two weeks later, we were on that platform, literally you could still see the spray paint on the columns [of the Capitol] … and then we said, ‘We are taking back our democracy,’” Klobuchar said.
“And on Jan. 6th, when it looked like insurrectionists were taking over the government, you know who came in and saved us? The Virginia National Guard!”
Micaela Pond hosted the candidates and activists in her yard, which included Arlington parents, students and teachers. Klobuchar’s daughter, Abigail Bessler, graduated from Washington and (then Lee) High School in 2013, and Klobuchar said she will always be grateful to the Arlington public school system and its educators for the great start
her daughter got at W and L, especially the values it instilled in her.
“Not everyone who goes to that high school comes from the same privileged background,” Klobuchar said, but once they enter that “beautiful school and have those amazing teachers,” students have an opportunity to succeed and be on equal footing. Her daughter was awarded the Presidential Scholar Candidate distinction by W and L in 2013, and went on to study at Yale University.
Klobuchar was introduced by U.S. Rep. Don Beyer, and she in turn introduced Lieutenant Governor candidate Hala Ayala, who spoke for a few minutes before introducing Terry McAuliffe, candidate for governor. Each of them reminded those who were gathered to knock on doors that this election is critically important because, “Democracy is on the ballot.” Klobuchar, Ayala, Beyer, and McAuliffe recognized that many in the crowd were tired; they had worked hard in 2020.
But as McAuliffe said, “We need to get to work and not stop until Nov. 2nd. Sleep when you are dead!”
The sense of urgency conveyed by the speakers did its job. Those who attended the event said the rally was just what people needed as they head into the month before an important election: the sense that what they are doing really matters to the future of the country and Virginia.