We love heroes, especially those who rise to the occasion against a consensus of appeasement. These rebellious, disobedient individuals, who risk both lives and livings, are celebrated in pop culture from Gary Cooper’s beleaguered marshal in High Noon to Bruce Willis’ Everyman in Die Hard. In real life, however, such people are rare. Since Jan. 20, the Trump administration and its unelected allies have bullied a public servant, artist or scientist nearly every week — and most of these moments are met with expressions of resignation or complicity. Every day has become high noon in America. This week Capital & Main launches a column examining people or institutions that succeeded or failed to stand up against intimidation.
