AMERICAN VOICES: Why veterans, librarians & families joined arms outside the Naval Academy graduation

Hi friends — We're trying something new at the Jim Acosta Show this Memorial Day weekend. We sent our friend, colleague, and longtime photojournalist Bethany Swain to cover the U.S. Naval Academy graduation ceremony, where J.D. Vance was speaking to graduating Midshipmen.

We wanted to amplify the voices of neighbors, friends, Academy supporters, and veterans who gathered outside the stadium in Annapolis to peacefully express their concerns about current administration policies.

Please take a moment to watch the video and let us know your thoughts. We'd love to hear whether you appreciate this style of reporting and if you'd like to see more community-focused coverage like this. If you enjoy what you see, we'd be grateful if you'd subscribe to Bethany's channel and help her grow alongside us here on Substack.

-Matt

##From Bethany Swain, Photojournalist, Swain Domain: On the morning of the U.S. Naval Academy graduation, a peaceful protest took place just a block from the stadium. Organized and supported by nearly a dozen groups—including the Caucus of African American Leaders, Annapolis Pride, and SURJ3A—the demonstration was not aimed at the Midshipmen, but at Vice President JD Vance, who delivered the keynote address, and the broader policies of the Trump-Vance administration.

Participants—including veterans, families with young children, religious groups, librarians, and local residents, told us they gathered to defend the Constitution, express concern about threats to democracy, and oppose censorship and autocratic leadership.

Handheld signs and donated banned books served as visual symbols of protest. The multiracial, multigenerational coalition emphasized unity, civic responsibility, and a shared commitment to upholding the oath that every Midshipman was taking to protect the Constitution.

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