Synopsis: When authorities arrested fugitive slave Joshua Glover in 1854, some 5,000 of his Wisconsin neighbors rallied to his cause, breaking down the jail door and escorting him to freedom. Their efforts set in motion a series of events with historic consequences, ultimately leading to emancipation.

Liberty at Stake: The Joshua Glover Story will finally tell the little-known yet monumental tale of one man’s courage in pursuit of liberty, the passionate citizens who helped him secure it, and the creation a political party by abolitionists who adopted the name “Republican.” When this fledgling party’s nominee – Abraham Lincoln – was elected president a few years later it would trigger Southern secession, Civil War, and, ultimately, emancipation.

How You Can Help

This powerful American story has been forgotten despite its role in some of the most momentous events in America’s history. It’s a tale of courage, selflessness and hope. The events surrounding Joshua Glover paint an inspiring picture of Americans taking a public stand unified by their commitment to founding principles.

Your tax-deductible contribution adds you to this incredible legacy of liberty.

Your donation will allow us to produce and distribute a full-length engaging, educational, and landmark documentary film that will inspire countless Americans of all ages. Together, we can ensure that this piece of our American heritage is not lost and becomes a story that is shared for years to come.

Please click Contribute Now above to join this great American legacy.**

Here are just a few of our endorsements:

U.S. Sen. Ron Johnson: The evil of slavery should never be forgotten, nor should the fact that many Americans fought heroically to end it. The story of Joshua Glover can serve to remind us that even in the face of evil, good can and must prevail.

Milwaukee Mayor Cavalier Johnson: Joshua Glover’s story is important to understand because it reveals so much about our history, our morality, our laws, and our humanity. Liberty at Stake shares a valuable lesson on the cruelty and violence of American slavery and the importance of righteous people who bravely stand up to evil.

Robert Woodson, founder and president of the Woodson Center: Americans are too often presented with a distorted view of our nation’s racial history. It isn’t just a history of oppression; it's also a history of people who stood against oppression. The story of Joshua Glover is a powerful example of how an entire city came together, united by the American ideal of liberty, in order to protect a fugitive slave. Joshua’s rescue served as a catalyst for historic events that would eventually lead to slavery’s demise. It’s important that Americans, especially our young people, hear the whole story. Liberty at Stake will help paint a fuller, more unifying picture of America’s racial legacy.

Former Wisconsin Governor Tommy Thompson: No story better captures the compassion and fierce independence of Wisconsin Badgers than that of the fugitive slave Joshua Glover and the estimated 5,000 Wisconsinites who took action to prevent his return to bondage. Liberty at Stake will showcase the role Wisconsin played in this national drama and the shared fight for freedom and dignity — leading, ultimately, to the abolition of slavery.

Former Gov. Scott Walker: Liberty at Stake tells the story of Joshua Glover and the connection to the groundbreaking gathering of Republicans in Ripon, Wisconsin. It is the kind of history we should share with young people today.

**If you prefer to donate by check, please click here to contact Shauna Schatz here.

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The Joshua Glover Story