Rally to Restore Sanity and/or Fear

On August 28, 2010, the Fox News Channel's Glenn Beck held a "Restoring Honor" rally at the Lincoln Memorial. On the same day, Al Sharpton led a countermarch, called Reclaim the Dream, to mark the 47th anniversary of the historic March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom. According to New York Magazine, discussion for a satirical public event in response took place behind the scenes at Stewart's The Daily Show as early as August 12.{{Cite episode|title="August 12, 2010"|series=The Daily Show with Jon Stewart|credits=Executive Producers: Rory Albanese, Josh Lieb, Jon Stewart|network=Comedy Central|airdate=August 12, 2010}}{{cite web|url=http://nymag.com/arts/tv/profiles/68086/index1.html|title=America Is a Joke|author=Chris Smith|date=September 12, 2011|work=New York|publisher=New York Media LLC.|pages=2, 5|access-date=September 18, 2010}} Stewart has stated that the rally was never intended to be a means to counter Glenn Beck, but was simply another format for his and Colbert's style of humor, saying "We saw [the Restoring Honor rally] and thought, 'What a beautiful outline. What a beautiful structure to fill with what we want to express in live form, festival form.'"{{cite web|url=https://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=130321994|title=Jon Stewart: The Most Trusted Name In Fake News|date=October 4, 2010|work=National Public Radio|publisher=National Public Radio|access-date=November 6, 2010}} Before any public discussion by Stewart, Colbert, or their staffs, members of the social news website Reddit independently began to discuss the possibility of a Colbert-led rally, often referred to as a "Restoring Truthiness Rally".{{cite web|url=https://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=150942998258775|title=100,000 Strong to Restore Truthiness to the US Capital|publisher=Facebook|access-date=October 15, 2010}} After the rallies were announced, some news articles credited Reddit for the idea.{{cite news |last=Bell |first=Melissa |url=http://voices.washingtonpost.com/blog-post/2010/09/rally_to_restore_sanity_to_mee.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100918011636/http://voices.washingtonpost.com/blog-post/2010/09/rally_to_restore_sanity_to_mee.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=September 18, 2010 |title=Blog Post – 'Rally to Restore Sanity' to meet 'March to Keep Fear Alive;' Reddit users talk about starting the online campaign |newspaper=The Washington Post |date=September 17, 2010 |access-date=September 20, 2010}}

File:Colbert-Stewart 2010 DC rally posters.png

Stewart first hinted at the event on the September 7 episode of The Daily Show by declaring that "[he would] have an announcement sometime in the near to not so near future."{{cite web|url=http://www.thedailyshow.com/watch/tue-september-7-2010/moment-of-zen---jon-s-important-announcement |title=Moment of Zen – Jon's Important Announcement – The Daily Show with Jon Stewart – 09/07/10 – Video Clip {{pipe}} Comedy Central |publisher=Thedailyshow.com |date=September 7, 2010|access-date=February 25, 2011}} Colbert, in that night's episode of The Report (which aired immediately following The Daily Show), said that he, too, had an announcement to make. In the following days, Stewart and Colbert used their shows to hype their respective announcements, competing over whose would be more significant. The banter finally culminated with Stewart formally announcing the "Rally to Restore Sanity" on the September 16, 2010 episode of The Daily Show;{{Cite episode|title="September 16, 2010"|series=The Daily Show with Jon Stewart|credits=Executive Producers: Rory Albanese, Josh Lieb, Jon Stewart|network=Comedy Central|airdate=September 16, 2010}} Colbert followed by announcing the "March to Keep Fear Alive" on the subsequent episode of The Colbert Report.

Stewart declared that his rally was intended for the majority of Americans, "the 70–80 percenters," who do not hold extreme political views and lack a voice in the media. To illustrate the point, he unveiled a mock motto for the rally: "Take it down a notch for America." A series of protest sign designs were proposed on the Daily Show featuring messages such as "I disagree with you, but I'm pretty sure you're not Hitler." Colbert responded to Stewart's proposal by challenging the theme of Stewart's rally and justifying his own "March to Keep Fear Alive." Noting that this was not the time to be reasonable, Colbert declared, "Now is the time for all good men to freak out for freedom!"{{cite news|url=http://www.time.com/time/quotes/0,26174,2019855,00.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100920143234/http://www.time.com/time/quotes/0,26174,2019855,00.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=September 20, 2010|publisher=Time|title=Quotes of the Day|date=September 17, 2010|access-date=November 13, 2011}}

Oprah Winfrey appeared on The Daily Show via video on October 14, 2010, to award the attending audience free airfare to the rally.{{cite web|url=http://www.thedailyshow.com/watch/thu-october-14-2010/rally-to-restore-sanity-and-or-fear-announcement|title=Rally to Restore Sanity and/or Fear Announcement|publisher=Comedy Central|date=October 14, 2010|access-date=October 15, 2010}} The plane tickets were hidden under the audience members' seats in the same fashion as she has given away prizes to her own audience members on The Oprah Winfrey Show.{{cite news|url=https://www.cbsnews.com/news/jon-stewarts-rally-to-restore-sanity-a-non-political-rally-that-is-actually-politically-charged/|date=October 30, 2010|title=Jon Stewart's "Rally to Restore Sanity:" A "Non-Political" Rally That Is Actually Politically Charged|first=Christine|last=Delargy|publisher=CBS News|access-date=November 13, 2011}} In the episode of the Colbert Report airing immediately afterward, Stephen Colbert also offered tickets to his rally. Arianna Huffington offered to provide free bus rides to the rally. During the show, Colbert also revealed to Stewart that he did not possess a permit to legally organize the "March to Keep Fear Alive," leading Stewart to propose combining the two events into the "Rally to Restore Sanity and/or Fear" that would feature a new combined logo.{{cite news|url=https://www.foxnews.com/politics/oprah-becomes-latest-star-to-lend-celebrity-endorsement-to-stewarts-rally |title=Oprah Latest Star to Lend Celebrity Endorsement to Stewart's Rally | work=Fox News | date=October 15, 2010}}

{{Clear}}

On the night following the announcement, the pledged number of attendees to the event reached 69,000 on Facebook.{{cite news|url=http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/opinion/ct-talk-stewart-rally-0923-20100922,0,4916287.story|title=Jon Stewart rally|publisher=chicagotribune.com|date=September 22, 2010|access-date=October 15, 2010|first=Duaa|last=Eldeib}} This number far exceeded the 25,000 that the rally organizers had indicated as the estimated number of attendees on the National Park Service application for a rally permit.{{cite news|newspaper=Washington Post|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/09/20/AR2010092005998.html?hpid=news-col-blog|first=Petula|last=Dvorak|date=September 21, 2010|access-date=September 21, 2010|title=Jon Stewart and Stephen Colbert might actually bring out the real moderates}} The demand for hotels during the period of the Rally to Restore Sanity and/or Fear outpaced that of the "Restoring Honor" rally.{{cite news|publisher=NBC|url=http://www.nbcwashington.com/around-town/events/Dueling-Rallies-Spike-Hotel-Bookings-103892163.html|date=September 28, 2010|title=Dueling Rallies Spike Hotel Bookings}} The rally spawned several grassroots websites and Facebook groups for organizing and discussion, some with more than 10,000 followers. Proposals were made for dozens of sister rallies in other major cities, such as Seattle, Chicago, Austin,{{cite news|work=Los Angeles Times|url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2010-sep-22-la-na-stewart-rally-20100923-story.html|first=Matea|last=Gold|date=September 22, 2010|title=Jon Stewart's 'Rally to Restore Sanity' could draw tens of thousands}} and Los Angeles{{cite news|newspaper=Chicago Tribune|url=http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/opinion/ct-talk-stewart-rally-0923-20100922,0,4916287.story|first=Duaa|last=Eldeib|date=September 22, 2010|title=Stewart rally may get satellite fete in Chicago}} to take place on the same day as the demonstration in Washington, D.C. On September 28, Arianna Huffington announced on The Daily Show that The Huffington Post would provide "as many buses as people to fill them" at a specified meeting place in Manhattan,{{cite news|url=http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2010/09/28/sanity-bus-arianna-offers_n_742739.html|title=HuffPost Sanity Bus: Arianna Offers Buses To Jon Stewart's Rally To Restore Sanity (VIDEO)|publisher=Huffingtonpost.com|date=September 28, 2010|access-date=October 15, 2010|first=Rob|last=Fishman}} although her plans were later scaled back and preregistration was imposed.{{cite news|url=http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2010/10/03/huffpost-sanity-bus-offic_n_745313.html|title=HuffPost Sanity Bus Info and FAQ|publisher=Huffingtonpost.com|date=October 22, 2010|access-date=October 29, 2010|first=Rob|last=Fishman}}

The Wall Street Journal characterized the Rally as a "send-up" of the Washington Restoring Honor rally led by Glenn Beck and the "Reclaim the Dream" commemorative march led by Al Sharpton on August 28, 2010.{{cite news|url=https://blogs.wsj.com/speakeasy/2010/09/17/rally-to-restore-sanity-jon-stewart-on-his-march-on-washington/|title='Rally to Restore Sanity': Jon Stewart on His March on Washington|date=September 17, 2010|newspaper=The Wall Street Journal|access-date=November 14, 2011}} The Canadian Press called the Stewart/Colbert rallies a "not-so-gentle" swipe at Glenn Beck's "Restoring Honor" rally.{{cite news|url=https://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/arts/comedy-colleagues-stewart-colbert-plan-dc-rallies/article1711983/|title=Comedy colleagues Stewart, Colbert plan D.C. rallies; Duo's events are a swipe at Glenn Beck and the politics of fear|date=September 17, 2010|newspaper=The Globe and Mail|access-date=November 14, 2011|location=Toronto}} {{Registration required|date=November 2011}} During a town hall event on September 29, President Obama cited the forthcoming rally as representing those people who are concerned with more than just the political beliefs of others, in contrast to "provocative" cable news programs.{{cite web|author=Ali Weinberg|url=http://firstread.msnbc.msn.com/_news/2010/09/29/5203437-obama-plugs-jon-stewart-rally|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101001153601/http://firstread.msnbc.msn.com/_news/2010/09/29/5203437-obama-plugs-jon-stewart-rally|url-status=dead|archive-date=October 1, 2010|title=Obama plugs Jon Stewart rally|publisher=Msnbc.com|work=First Read|date=September 29, 2009|access-date=October 15, 2010}}

Many news organizations sought media credentials to cover the rally.{{cite news|last=Carter |first=Bill |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2010/10/15/business/media/15rally.html?_r=3 |title=Growing Interest, Despite Questions, in Jon Stewart's Rally |newspaper=The New York Times |date=October 14, 2010 |access-date=October 20, 2011}} Anticipating staff interest in attending for non-professional purposes, NPR barred staffers from attending the rally in a memo that stated: "NPR journalists may not participate in marches and rallies involving causes or issues that NPR covers, nor should they sign petitions or otherwise lend their name to such causes, or contribute money to them. This restriction applies to the upcoming Jon Stewart and Stephen Colbert rallies."{{cite web|last=Shepard|first=Alicia C.|url=https://www.npr.org/blogs/ombudsman/2010/10/14/130573793/stewart-colbert|title=Employees And Political Rallies: Facts Behind The Controversy: NPR Ombudsman|publisher=NPR|date=October 15, 2010|access-date=October 31, 2010}}{{cite web|url=http://www.observer.com/2010/media/npr-bans-staffers-attending-stewart-and-colbert-rallies|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101015212541/http://www.observer.com/2010/media/npr-bans-staffers-attending-stewart-and-colbert-rallies|url-status=dead|archive-date=October 15, 2010|title=NPR Bans Staffers From Attending Stewart and Colbert Rallies {{pipe}} The New York Observer|publisher=Observer.com|date=October 13, 2010|access-date=October 31, 2010}} NBC and several other media outlets followed suit. Some barred employees from attending the rally outright, while others such as The Washington Post offered more latitude, telling newsroom managers to differentiate between "participating" and "observing."{{cite news|url=http://www.observer.com/2010/daily-transom/news-outlets-follow-nprs-lead-no-staffers-stewart-and-colbert-rallies|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101018233809/http://www.observer.com/2010/daily-transom/news-outlets-follow-nprs-lead-no-staffers-stewart-and-colbert-rallies|url-status=dead|archive-date=October 18, 2010|title=News Outlets Follow NPR's Lead: No Staffers at Stewart and Colbert Rallies |publisher=The New York Observer|date=October 14, 2010|access-date=October 31, 2010}}

Prior to the announcement of the joint rally, supporters of the movement for a Colbert-led march had begun a drive to raise money for educational charities through DonorsChoose.org, a charitable organization of which Colbert is a member of the Board of Directors. In the first 24 hours, supporters raised over $100,000. In the days that followed, that total increased to over $250,000, and by the day of the rally over $500,000 had been contributed.{{cite web|title=Restoring Truthiness Giving Page|publisher=DonorsChoose.org|url=http://www.donorschoose.org/truthiness}} Jon Stewart promoted the Trust for the National Mall, urging his viewers to make donations on behalf of the rally. As of October 31, 2010, over $188,000 had been donated to the Trust.{{cite web|title=Donations to date|publisher=Trust for the National Mall|url=https://www.nationalmall.org/donationform.php/rtrs?fund=Rally%20to%20Restore%20Sanity|access-date=October 31, 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120910215030/https://www.nationalmall.org/donationform.php/rtrs?fund=Rally%20to%20Restore%20Sanity|archive-date=September 10, 2012|url-status=dead|df=mdy-all}}

File:RALLY_TO_RESTORE_SANITY_2010.jpg

As the number of expected participants grew, the rally was moved from the grounds of the Washington Monument to the east end of the Mall facing the Capitol. The stage was on the east side of the rally with an open back, allowing the Capitol building to provide the backdrop for the performances. In order to meet the public safety requirements of the National Park Service permit, the Mall between the Capitol and 14th Street was divided into sections, with access aisles lined by portable fences. Speakers and jumbotron television screens were placed along both the north and south edges to encourage the crowd to spread out rather than press against the main stage.

Portable toilets and first aid stations were also provided. Because the rally was held the day before the previously scheduled Marine Corps Marathon, the rally planners originally requested to share the portable toilets planned for the marathon runners. The marathon organizers refused, so a second set of portable toilets was ordered.{{cite news|url=http://www.aolnews.com/nation/article/stewart-colbert-rallies-looking-for-a-few-good-porta-potties/19664942?a_dgi=aolshare_facebook|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181116084857/http://www.aolnews.com/nation/article/stewart-colbert-rallies-looking-for-a-few-good-porta-potties/19664942?a_dgi=aolshare_facebook|url-status=dead|archive-date=November 16, 2018|title=Stewart, Colbert Rallies Looking for a Few Good Porta-Potties|date=October 7, 2010|work=AOL News|access-date=October 31, 2010}}

Image:Rally to Restore Sanity andor Fear - Sheryl Crow.jpg, one of several guests at the rally]]

While both Colbert and Stewart were tight-lipped as to the event's schedule and guests, Metromix's Washington DC website published a tentative schedule on October 27, with guest performers said to be confirmed for the event including musicians Sheryl Crow, the Roots and Jeff Tweedy with Mavis Staples along with actors Don Novello (appearing as Father Guido Sarducci) and Sam Waterston.{{cite web|url=http://dc.metromix.com/events/article/rally-to-restore-sanity/2268575/content|title="Rally to Restore Sanity and/or Fear" Schedule|publisher=Metromix|date=October 27, 2010|access-date=October 27, 2010}} Other guests included 4troops,{{cite web|url=http://tpmlivewire.talkingpointsmemo.com/2010/10/jon-stewart-opens-the-rally-to-restore-sanity-andor-fear-video.php|title=Jon Stewart Opens The Rally To Restore Sanity And/Or Fear (VIDEO)|publisher=TPM|date=October 30, 2010|access-date=October 30, 2010|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101101183931/http://tpmlivewire.talkingpointsmemo.com/2010/10/jon-stewart-opens-the-rally-to-restore-sanity-andor-fear-video.php|archive-date=November 1, 2010|df=mdy-all}} Yusuf Islam – formerly known as Cat Stevens, Ozzy Osbourne, the O'Jays,{{cite news|url=http://voices.washingtonpost.com/compost/2010/10/peace_trains_crazy_trains_love.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121014234227/http://voices.washingtonpost.com/compost/2010/10/peace_trains_crazy_trains_love.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=October 14, 2012|title=Peace Trains, Crazy Trains, Love Trains and automobiles at Stewart rally|first=Alexandra|last=Petri|newspaper=Washington Post|access-date=October 30, 2010}} John Legend, Kid Rock, Tony Bennett,{{cite news|url=http://www.nydailynews.com/news/politics/2010/10/30/2010-10-30_thousands_of_new_yorkers_drawn_to_stephen_colbert_jon_stewart_rally_to_restore_s.html|title=Stephen Colbert, Jon Stewart 'Rally to Restore Sanity and/or Fear' draws thousands of New Yorkers|publisher=Nydailynews.com |date=October 30, 2010|access-date=October 31, 2010}} Mythbusters hosts Adam Savage and Jamie Hyneman,{{cite web|url=https://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=130952931|title='Sanity/Fear' Rally A Protest of the Absurd|website=NPR.org|publisher=NPR |access-date=October 31, 2010}} basketball player Kareem Abdul-Jabbar,{{cite news|last=Stanglin|first=Douglas|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/us-politics/8100978/Thousands-attend-Rally-to-Restore-Sanity-in-Washington.html|title=Thousands attend 'Rally to Restore Sanity' in Washington|newspaper=The Daily Telegraph|date=November 1, 2010|access-date=November 12, 2011|location=London}} and R2-D2.{{cite news|url=https://www.theatlantic.com/politics/archive/2010/10/5-funniest-moments-of-the-rally-to-restore-sanity-and-or-fear/65448/|title=5 Funniest Moments of the 'Rally to Restore Sanity and/or Fear'|first=Nicole|last=Allan|work=The Atlantic|date=October 30, 2010|access-date=February 24, 2011}}

File:Stephen_Colbert_at_Rally.jpg on stage]]

Satirical comedy was woven throughout the rally with Colbert expressing, in parody, that fear was superior to Stewart's reasonableness. The theme started with Colbert—costumed like Evel Knievel—emerging from his "fear bunker" in a capsule reminiscent of the 2010 Chilean miners' rescue.{{cite news|url=http://www.tulsaworld.com/news/article.aspx?subjectid=11&articleid=20101108_218_A11_TheWas66103|title=Rallying with revelry, goofiness|first=Robert|last=Evatt|newspaper=Tulsa World|date=November 8, 2010|access-date=November 14, 2011}} Thereafter, Colbert challenged Stewart point by point, usually claiming victory.

One of their battles was waged over three songs about trains. Stewart started with Islam singing "Peace Train," which was interrupted continually by Colbert-backed Osbourne singing "Crazy Train." The audience held up peace signs for "Peace Train" and horn signs for "Crazy Train." Finally, Stewart and Colbert compromised singing "Love Train" with the O'Jays.

File:Rally_to_Restore_Sanity_andor_Fear_-_Jon_Stewart.jpg in American flag coat]]

Later, Stewart and Colbert donned matching American flag coats and sang an original song "The Greatest, Strongest Country in the World" with lyrics that reflected common liberal and conservative stereotypes, such as "I love NASCAR halftime shows with tons of TNT. ... My hybrid electric scooter does 100 m-p-g. From gay men who like football ... to straight men who like Glee ..."{{cite web|last=Hester|first=Jere|url=http://www.nbcnewyork.com/entertainment/television/Boldly-Pushing-the-Bounds-of-Sanity-Fear--and-Comedy-106403678.html|publisher=NBC New York|title=Boldly Pushing the Bounds of Sanity, Fear – and Comedy|date=November 1, 2010|access-date=November 1, 2010}}

In the finale, a giant papier-mâché puppet of Colbert ("Fearzilla") was brought on stage to symbolize his superiority. Peter Pan—played by John Oliver—then appeared and led the crowd in a chant that caused Colbert and his puppet to melt into the stage, thereby handing final victory to Stewart.{{cite web|url=http://timesdelphic.com/2010/11/04/rally-to-restore-sanity|title=Rally to Restore Sanity|first=Heather|last=Hall|date=November 4, 2010|work=The Times-Delphic|access-date=November 14, 2011}}

Stewart gave out "Medals of Reasonableness" cast in bronze with an image of an owl and the Latin motto Sit vis nobiscum, liberally translated by Stewart as "May the Force be with you," to:

• Armando Galarraga for his calm response to the blown call that cost him a perfect game.
• Mick Foley for his contributions outside of wrestling, including his defense of a child mocked for being seen as gay.
• Velma Hart for her reasoned critical questions delivered to President Barack Obama at a town hall.
• Jacob Isom for preventing an evangelist from burning a Qur'an.{{cite news|last=Montopoli|first=Brian|url=https://www.cbsnews.com/news/jon-stewart-rallies-for-sanity-and-against-cable-news/|title=Jon Stewart Rallies for Sanity — and Against Cable News|publisher=CBS News|date=October 30, 2010|access-date=October 31, 2010}}

Colbert awarded "Medals of Fear" cast with an image of a naked man running with scissors and the Latin motto Cave ne cadmium sit, which Colbert translated as "Warning: May contain Cadmium," to:

• Several news media outlets, collectively, for barring employees from attending the rally on their own time.
• A "tight black T-shirt" that Colbert said belonged to CNN's Anderson Cooper, for always appearing during natural disasters reported on by Cooper.{{cite web|url=http://www.mediabistro.com/tvnewser/jon-stewart-stephen-colbert-put-on-a-show_b37649|title=Jon Stewart & Stephen Colbert Put on a Show|publisher=Media Bistro|date=October 30, 2010|access-date=October 31, 2010}}
• Mark Zuckerberg for making Facebook increase fear with regard to Internet privacy.{{cite web|last=Jerome|first=Sara|url=https://thehill.com/policy/technology/74001-zuckerberg-awarded-fear-medal-at-d-c-rally/|title=Zuckerberg awarded 'fear' medal at D.C. rally|work=The Hill|date=October 30, 2010|access-date=October 31, 2010}}

Zuckerberg's award was presented in absentia. The media outlets' award was accepted on their behalf by "someone with more courage—a seven-year-old girl."{{cite news|title=Jon Stewart 'Rally to Restore Sanity' highlights|newspaper=The Washington Post |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/10/30/AR2010103002320.html|date=October 30, 2010|access-date=October 31, 2010}} Also, videotaped messages were shown of Steven Slater, known from the 2010 JetBlue flight attendant incident, and reality TV star Teresa Giudice, both apologizing for public acts of "unreasonableness."

After defeating Colbert's "Fearzilla", Stewart closed the rally with a "moment ... for some sincerity" to explain his intentions for the rally:{{cite web|url=http://www.craveonline.com/music/articles/132858-metal-meets-folk-meets-soul-at-the-rally-to-restore-sanity|title=Metal Meets Folk Meets Soul at The Rally To Restore Sanity: The Roots, Ozzy, Cat Stevens, Kid Rock and more joined Jon Stewart & Stephen Colbert Saturday in D.C. in a show of sanity|first=Johnny|last=Firecloud|work=Crave Online|publisher=CRAVEONLINE MEDIA, LLC|date=October 31, 2010|access-date=November 13, 2011|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110529010235/http://www.craveonline.com/music/articles/132858-metal-meets-folk-meets-soul-at-the-rally-to-restore-sanity|archive-date=May 29, 2011|df=mdy-all}}

{{blockquote|This was not a rally to ridicule people of faith, or people of activism, or look down our noses at the heartland, or passionate argument, or to suggest that times are not difficult and that we have nothing to fear. They are, and we do. But we live now in hard times, not end times.}}

He criticized the role the press plays in polarizing political debates, stating that the media—which he described as "the country's 24-hour politico–pundit perpetual panic 'conflict-inator'"—only amplifies problems and no longer makes a distinction between "hav[ing] animus" and "be[ing] enemies." He warned that demonizing opponents and accepting propaganda makes people "less safe, not more" and that "it is an insult, not only to those people, but to the racists themselves who have put in the exhausting effort it takes to hate."

Much of the speech was devoted to the idea that "[m]ost Americans don't live their lives solely as Democrats, Republicans, liberals or conservatives." He spoke on the subject of "reasonable compromises" that happen "every day" between persons of different beliefs, citing as an example traffic merging at the entrance to the Holland Tunnel connecting New York City and Jersey City.

{{wide image|Rally to Restore Sanity and or Fear - 2010-10-30 - Panora of Crowd.jpg|800px|A section of the crowd on the National Mall between the National Gallery of Art on the left, and the Smithsonian Institution's National Air and Space Museum on the right. Jon Stewart satirically estimated the crowd size at 10 million people during the event. Colbert later tweeted that it had been 6 billion.{{cite news|newspaper=NY Daily News|url=http://www.nydailynews.com/news/national/2010/10/31/2010-10-31_jon_stewarts_rally_to_restore_sanity_drew_200000_beating_estimated_attendance_at.html|title=Jon Stewart's 'Rally to Restore Sanity' drew 200,000, beating estimated attendance at Glenn Beck's|first=Meena|last=Hartenstein|date=October 31, 2010|access-date=November 2, 2010|location=New York}}}}

File:I am moderately excited for this (5133933902).jpg

An aerial photography analysis commissioned by CBS News and carried out by AirPhotosLive.com estimated the crowd at 215,000 people, plus or minus 10%. In comparison, their estimate for the Restoring Honor rally made using the same methods was 87,000 people, plus or minus 9,000.{{cite news|url=https://www.cbsnews.com/news/glenn-beck-restoring-honor-rally-crowd-estimate-explained/|title=Glenn Beck "Restoring Honor" Rally Crowd Estimate Explained|first=Brian|last=Montopoli|publisher=CBS News|date=August 31, 2010|access-date=November 14, 2011}} USA Today, Voice of America and ABC News all referred to the crowd as tens of thousands of people, with Voice of America noting, "the crowd filled the Mall, from almost in front of the Capitol to the Washington Monument."{{cite news|url=https://www.usatoday.com/news/washington/2010-10-30-rally-stewart-colbert_N.htm|title='Sanity' rally draws tens of thousands|work=USA Today|date=October 30, 2010|access-date=October 30, 2010|first1=Douglas|last1=Stanglin|first2=Jessica|last2=Durando}}{{cite news|url=https://www.voanews.com/a/political-rally-in-us-capital-draws-thousands-106371909/129417.html|title=Tens of Thousands Rally for Laughs, Activism in Washington|work=Voice of America}}{{cite news|url=https://abcnews.go.com/Politics/stewart-colberts-rally-restore-sanity-draws-thousands/story?id=12011738|title=Stewart and Colbert's DC Rally Staged for Comedy, Not Politics|work=ABC News}}

According to local news outlet TBD TV, "Massive turnout for Saturday's rally quickly overwhelmed the Mall, forcing thousands of people into nearby streets and, eventually, just giving up and leaving."{{cite news|url=http://www.tbd.com/blogs/tbd-neighborhoods/2010/10/jon-stewart-rally-huge-turnout-forces-early-retreat-to-nearby-bars-3947.html|title=Jon Stewart rally: Huge turnout forces early retreat to nearby bars|work=TBD TV|date=October 30, 2010|access-date=October 30, 2010|archive-date=November 2, 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101102162824/http://www.tbd.com/blogs/tbd-neighborhoods/2010/10/jon-stewart-rally-huge-turnout-forces-early-retreat-to-nearby-bars-3947.html|url-status=dead}} The PA system was criticized for being inadequate for those farther back to hear, with the crowd chanting "louder" several times.{{cite web|last=Holmes |first=Linda |url=https://www.npr.org/blogs/monkeysee/2010/10/30/130942222/highs-and-lows-from-the-rally-for-sanity-and-or-fear |title=Highs And Lows From The 'Rally To Restore Sanity And/Or Fear' : Monkey See |publisher=NPR |date=October 31, 2010 |access-date=August 15, 2012}} Jon Stewart, speaking from the stage, jokingly said there were over 10 million people there, and Stephen Colbert satirically tweeted an estimate of 6 billion.

The Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority, which maintained its normal Saturday service schedule, announced that Metrorail ridership set a Saturday record of 825,437 trips, as compared to about 350,000 on a normal Saturday,{{cite press release|url=http://www.wmata.com/about_metro/news/PressReleaseDetail.cfm?ReleaseID=4717|title=Metro sets new record for highest Saturday Metrorail ridership|date=October 31, 2010|access-date=November 12, 2011|work=Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111118193241/http://www.wmata.com/about_metro/news/PressReleaseDetail.cfm?ReleaseID=4717|archive-date=November 18, 2011|df=mdy-all}} and beating out the previous record set in 1991 of 786,358 trips during the Desert Storm National Victory Celebration.{{cite news| title=Jon Stewart 'Rally to Restore Sanity' crowds set new record for DC transit with 825,437 trips| date=November 1, 2010| author=Joanna Malloy and Corky Siemaszko| publisher=nydailynews.com| url=http://www.nydailynews.com/ny_local/2010/11/01/2010-11-01_jon_stewart_rally_to_restore_sanity_crowds_set_new_record_for_dc_transit_with_82.html| work=(New York) Daily News| access-date=June 22, 2011| archive-date=November 4, 2010| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101104062819/http://www.nydailynews.com/ny_local/2010/11/01/2010-11-01_jon_stewart_rally_to_restore_sanity_crowds_set_new_record_for_dc_transit_with_82.html| url-status=dead}} The record would last more than 6 six years, until it was broken by the 2017 Women's March.

The rally was broadcast live on Comedy Central and C-SPAN. The Comedy Central live broadcast reportedly drew 2,000,000 total viewers, with an additional 570,000 live video streams on the Internet.{{cite news|url=http://www.boston.com/ae/tv/articles/2010/11/01/sanity_rally_seen_by_2_million_tv_viewers/|title='Sanity' rally seen by 2 million TV viewers|agency=Associated Press|newspaper=Boston Globe|date=November 1, 2010|access-date=November 14, 2011}}

File:Wpisavalidsource + citation needed.jpg"]]

Keith Olbermann was prominently featured in a video montage shown at the rally that focused on the anger present in cable news. On November 2, Olbermann announced that he would suspend his "Worst Person in the World" segment on Countdown with Keith Olbermann in the interest of turning down the volume and anger. However, he defended the content of his show by claiming that MSNBC (the network that hosted Countdown at the time) differs from Fox News in that "sticking up for the powerless is not the moral equivalent of sticking up for the powerful."{{cite news|url=http://www.nydailynews.com/news/politics/2010/11/02/2010-11-02_keith_olbermann_drops_worst_person_in_the_world_segment_on_msnbc_after_jon_stewa.html|title=Keith Olbermann drops 'Worst Persons in the World' segment on MSNBC after Jon Stewart rally|first=Aliyah|last=Shahid|work=New York Daily News|date=November 2, 2010|access-date=November 2, 2010}} After tallying an online vote among his viewers, Olbermann announced that the segment would return on the November 17 broadcast as the "Not Really Worst Persons in the World."{{cite web|url=http://www.mediabistro.com/tvnewser/keith-olbermanns-worst-persons-suspension-returning-according-to-his-twitter-it-is_b40332|title=Keith Olbermann's 'Worst Person' Suspension Over? According to his Twitter It is|work=TV Newser|first=Molly|last=Stark Dean|date=November 17, 2010|access-date=November 14, 2011|archive-date=September 18, 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110918120744/http://www.mediabistro.com/tvnewser/keith-olbermanns-worst-persons-suspension-returning-according-to-his-twitter-it-is_b40332|url-status=dead}} Between the two announcements, Olbermann was suspended by MSNBC on November 5 and re-instated on November 9 over his violation of network policy regarding political donations; the contract between Olbermann and MSNBC would be terminated two months later in January 2011. Olbermann would launch an identically named show with the same segment on Current TV beginning from June 2011, but was terminated again in March 2012.

On Real Time with Bill Maher, Bill Maher criticized the rally, saying that while Stewart and Colbert meant well, the message of the rally promoted a false equivalency between the left and the right, noting, "the big mistake of modern media has been this notion of balance for balance's sake. That the Left is just as violent and cruel as the Right ... there's a difference between a mad man and a madman."{{cite episode|title=November 5, 2010|series=Real Time with Bill Maher|credits=Bill Maher|network=HBO|airdate=November 5, 2010|season=8|number=24}}

On November 11, Stewart appeared on The Rachel Maddow Show and clarified the message he intended to convey at the rally: that too many have "bought into the idea that the conflict [in America] is left versus right" when the conflict is actually "corruption versus not-corruption" and that "both sides have their ways of shutting down debate."{{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101113031846/http://watching-tv.ew.com/2010/11/11/jon-stewart-on-the-rachel-maddow-show-we-have-a-special-place-in-our-hearts-for-fox/ |date=November 13, 2010 |title=Jon Stewart on 'The Rachel Maddow Show': 'We have a special place in our hearts for Fox'}}

Several websites, such as The Huffington Post, dedicated a page to collecting "the funniest signs from the rally."{{cite news|url=http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2010/10/30/the-funniest-signs-at-the_n_776490.html#s170117|title=The Funniest Signs From The Rally To Restore Sanity And/Or Fear|first=Katla|last=McGlynn|work=The Huffington Post|date=October 30, 2010|access-date=November 7, 2010}}

In 2012 Stewart said that at the time that he had invited Yusuf Islam to perform at the rally, he did not know that Yusuf Islam had expressed support for a Fatwa issued against Salman Rushdie. Upon learning about it, Stewart tried to get clarifications from Islam, but the conversation he had with Islam left Stewart unsatisfied.{{cite news|url=https://www.today.com/popculture/jon-stewart-tells-stephen-colbert-i-nearly-quit-daily-show-1C7546805|date=December 11, 2012|title=Jon Stewart tells Stephen Colbert: I nearly quit 'Daily Show' over 'insane' co-workers|first =Randee|last= Dawn|publisher=The Today Show}}

On October 30, 2020, Stewart appeared on The Late Show with Stephen Colbert to celebrate the 10th anniversary of the event. Colbert apologized after Stewart said his rally to restore fear "won" in a "shutout." Tony Bennett also appeared to sing "America the Beautiful" but was cut off by Stewart.{{cite web |title= Jon Stewart And Stephen Reunite On The 10th Anniversary Of Their Rally To Restore Sanity And/Or Fear |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mHA5BivIHFg |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211221/mHA5BivIHFg |archive-date=2021-12-21 |url-status=live|website=YouTube |access-date=31 October 2020 |date=31 October 2020}}{{cbignore}}

The rally was nominated for four Daytime Emmy Awards:{{cite press release|url=http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/the-rally-to-restore-sanity-andor-fear-honored-with-four-daytime-emmy-nominations-121638158.html|title=The Rally to Restore Sanity and/or Fear" Honored With Four Daytime Emmy Nominations|agency=PR Newswire|date=May 11, 2011|access-date=May 11, 2011}}

• Outstanding Special Class Special
• Outstanding Special Class Writing
• Outstanding Achievement in Technical Direction/Electronic Camera/Video Control
• Outstanding Achievement in Live & Direct To Tape Sound Mixing

{{Portal|Comedy|Politics}}

• List of political rallies on the National Mall
• National Endowment for the Humanities' Civility Tour
• One Nation Working Together rally
• Pluralistic Rationalism
• List of protest marches on Washington, D.C.

{{Reflist|colwidth=30em}}

{{Commons category|Rally to Restore Sanity and/or Fear}}

• [http://www.rallytorestoresanityandorfear.com/ Rally to Restore Sanity and/or Fear]
• [http://www.rallytorestoresanity.com/ Rally to Restore Sanity]
• [http://www.keepfearalive.com/ March to Keep Fear Alive]
• [http://www.comedycentral.com/shows/rally_to_restore_sanity_and_or_fear/index.jhtml Rally to Restore Sanity and/or Fear Videos] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101102194418/http://www.comedycentral.com/shows/rally_to_restore_sanity_and_or_fear/index.jhtml |date=November 2, 2010 }} at Comedy Central

• [http://www.life.com/image/first/in-gallery/51851/rally-to-restore-sanity-pics Rally to Restore Sanity] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101101032137/http://www.life.com/image/first/in-gallery/51851/rally-to-restore-sanity-pics |date=November 1, 2010 }} – slideshow by Life magazine
• [http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2010/10/30/the-funniest-signs-at-the_n_776490.html The Funniest Signs At The Rally To Restore Sanity] – slideshow by The Huffington Post
• [https://web.archive.org/web/20110716212319/http://www.geoeye.com/CorpSite/gallery/detail.aspx?iid=327&gid=1 Satellite view of the crowd]

• [https://web.archive.org/web/20120107135136/http://www.c-span.org/Events/StewartColbert-Rally-to-Restore-Sanity-andor-Fear/19582/ Stewart/Colbert Rally to Restore Sanity and/or Fear] – full event video recording by C-SPAN (requires Adobe Flash Player)
• [https://www.vice.com/en/article/rally-to-restore-sanity/ Rally To Restore Sanity]–short documentary by VICE (requires Adobe Flash Player)

• {{IMDb title|1761006|The Rally to Restore Sanity and/or Fear}}

{{The Colbert Report}}

{{The Daily Show}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Rally To Restore Sanity And Or Fear}}

Category:2010 protests

Category:2010 in American politics

Category:2010 in Washington, D.C.

Category:October 2010 in the United States

Category:American political satire

Category:National Mall

Category:Political culture

Category:Protest marches in Washington, D.C.

Category:The Colbert Report

Category:The Daily Show