Chuck Darwin<p>The Christian nationalist organization "Liberty Counsel" held a fundraising gala called<br> "A New Birth of Freedom" <br>at which Rep. Byron Donalds, <br>who is now running for governor in Florida, <br>delivered the keynote address.</p><p>Hosted by Mat Staver, the anti-LGBTQ and anti-vax right-wing conspiracy theorist who founded and runs Liberty Counsel, <br>the event also presented a 💥"Defender of Freedom" award to <a href="https://c.im/tags/John" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#<span>John</span></a> <a href="https://c.im/tags/Strand" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#<span>Strand</span></a>, <br>a model and right-wing activist who was sentenced to more than two years in prison for his actions during the insurrection at the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021, </p><p>-- only to be pardoned by President Donald Trump upon his return to office.</p><p>Strand was convicted of illegally entering the Capitol and refusing to leave. </p><p>As Mother Jones reported, he openly bragged his actions</p><p>In presenting the award to Strand, Staver and his wife Anita insisted that Strand had "committed no crime" <br>and was, in fact, <br>a "true patriot" <br>who was persecuted and became a "political prisoner."</p><p>"May God use this unspeakable experience to bring a new birth of freedom that will last for generations," declared Anita Staver, in presenting the award.<br><a href="https://www.peoplefor.org/rightwingwatch/liberty-counsel-honors-jan-6-insurrectionist-defender-liberty" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" translate="no" target="_blank"><span class="invisible">https://www.</span><span class="ellipsis">peoplefor.org/rightwingwatch/l</span><span class="invisible">iberty-counsel-honors-jan-6-insurrectionist-defender-liberty</span></a></p>