The Escape That Sparked a Movement: Joshua Glover’s Fight for Freedom

What happens when a community refuses to accept injustice—even when it’s backed by federal law?

In this powerful episode of American Potential, host David From sits down with Michael Jahr, a seasoned communicator and first-time filmmaker, to share the incredible true story of Joshua Glover—a man born into slavery in Missouri who risked everything for freedom. After a harrowing 400-mile escape to Racine, Wisconsin, Glover finally experienced liberty—until slave catchers, armed with the Fugitive Slave Act, found and captured him.

But Glover’s story didn’t end in chains.

Outraged citizens of Milwaukee, from all backgrounds and political affiliations, rallied in the thousands to rescue him from jail—risking arrest, imprisonment, and their livelihoods to stand against an unjust law. Their courageous act not only helped Joshua Glover reach freedom in Canada—it lit the spark that would lead to the formation of the Republican Party.

Michael Jahr recounts how a forgotten plaque in a Milwaukee park led him to uncover this pivotal moment in American history. His short documentary Liberty at Stake is just the beginning of a larger effort to tell this story on a national stage. Together, he and David explore the ripple effects of Glover’s escape and the citizens who defended him—ordinary people who took bold action, ultimately helping change the course of history.

This episode is a reminder that the fight for freedom is often fueled by small acts of courage—and that telling these stories matters now more than ever.