When Dave Grohl of the Foo Fighters took to the Merriweather stage on Saturday for an electricifying anti-authoritarianism protest concert, he wore a black T-shirt with a yellow hawk on it — the logo of the University of Iowa Hawkeyes.
It was a visible nod to one of the attendees of the concert who walked quietly on the pavilion lawn amid 20,000 fans of peace and democracy: Jack Smith, the former U.S. assistant attorney general and the special counsel appointed to investigate Donald Trump’s possession of classified documents and role in the Jan. 6 insurrection.
Four days earlier, Smith had appeared before the Senate Judiciary Committee to face questioning about the scope of his investigations and his motives. The appearance backfired for Republicans when it led to a specatularly embarssing moment. Sen. Eric Schmitt of Missouri thought he was trapping Smith in a perjury charge by trying to show that the lawyer was in Atlanta to possibly meet with the Fulton County district attorney also investigating Trump. But a basketball game Schmitt was referring to apparently was a College Park womens’ basketball match-up that included superstar Caitlin Clark, then playing for the Iowa Hawkeyes.
Schmitt’s confusion of the Atlanta Hawks and the Iowa Hawkeyes became an internet sensation and inspired Grohl’s shirt. It also reminded much of the nation of the sober clarity of Smith’s investigations.
“I’m dedicating this song to my new friend, Jack,” said Grohl on stage, before the Foo Fighters launched into their hit “My Hero.”
Smith’s presence created a buzz all day at the “Power to the People” concert organized by Tom Morello, and he was treated as something of a star in his own right. Attendees took selfies and candid shots that appeared on social media, showing Smith wearing a Bruce Springsteen concert T-shirt that said “No Kings” and trim camel-colored slacks.
Among those greeting Smith was Baltimore Fishbowl Executive Editor David Nitkin, who in the moment did not ask for an exclusive interview, and thus was not granted one.
The casual and loud setting was not right for reporting, although Smith posed for selfies and allowed candid shots all day. And he now appears to be a regular supporter of large arena events in Maryland — whether for college basketball or rock music.
When the concert lineup showed “special guests” appearing in a prime spot, rumors swirled through the arena, ready for anyone from Barack Obama to Bono of U2. In the end, organizer and musician Morella eschewed any elected officials, but continued to showcase icons like Bruce Springsteen, Joan Baez, Stephen Stills, Dave Matthews and Nathaniel Rateliff in a variety of pairings.
Morello told the audience toward the end of the night: “Every act of art is an act of resistance.”
“This is still America,” Springsteen said of the Trump administration’s actions, “and this will not stand.”
Howard County Police had 126 officers involved with concert operations, including 72 in security roles and 40 traffic personnel. There were no arrests, police said.
Anti Authoritarian concert? Where were any of these people during our ‘rehearsal for a police state’ 3 years ago? Small business shut down, folks getting fired for not allowing a non-vacine to be pumped into their bodies and censorship (aka misinformation or guard rails) was rampant? I am glad that they are enjoying their constitutionally guaranteed right to freedom of speech but, let’s face it, it probably couldn’t have happened when President Auto Pen was in charge.