Steve Bannon is a far-right influencer, the host of the popular self-described “ultra-MAGA” WarRoom podcast, and has his own page on the Anti-Defamation League website. He was President Donald Trump’s chief strategist for part of Trump’s first term, and he’s recently suggested Trump be elected again in 2028 – even though that would currently be unconstitutional under the 22nd amendment. He recently pleaded guilty to a felony charge regarding defrauding donors to a private effort to build a wall on the US southern border.
Bannon is also the keynote speaker at the Colorado GOP’s March 28 evening “A Golden Age” gala. Originally to be held in Denver, and then at the Antlers hotel in Colorado Springs, the event is now being held at the Phil Long Music Hall (as of press time), according to a March 10 article in the Gazette, due to pressure from community members who discouraged the previous venues from hosting Bannon.
I am not a radical leftist or antifa. – James Proby, founder of social impact business the Men’s Xchange
The Colorado GOP made it clear on its Facebook page that public sentiment would not stop the event.
“Antifa, the Denver Democratic Socialists of America, and other radical Democrats are trying desperately to disrupt and cancel our event but we won’t let them,” said a March 18 post. “This dinner event will move forward with Steve Bannon … Thank you for your patience and together we will beat back the radical leftists who are trying to silence our voices.”
However, the community members who spoke out against Bannon’s appearance dispute the characterization of them as “radical leftists” and “antifa,” including James Proby. He’s the founder of the Men’s Xchange, a social impact business that makes professional attire accessible to those with limited financial means.
“I am not a radical leftist or antifa. I am a registered Independent in the state of Colorado. I’m a small business owner,” Proby told the Bulletin.
Proby said he believes everyone has a right to gather, and is not against the Republican party. It’s specifically Steve Bannon he has a problem with.
“He’s made his positions pretty clear. They go beyond politics and go into… social reclamation… how do we push the needle back to when the social voices were pretty homogenous,” Proby said.
Once he confirmed Bannon was scheduled to appear at the Antlers, he said he reached out on social media to say “I’m not ok with this.”
Turns out a lot of people weren’t ok with Bannon either.
“Our community made phone calls and said ‘this is unacceptable, we don’t want this in our community,'” Proby said.
“If it doesn’t start with the end of our pledge of allegiance, I’m not interested,” Proby said. “If it’s not liberty and justice for all, it’s not worth our time and energy.”
Venue has connection to Colorado Springs Independent
The Phil Long Music Hall, where Bannon is reportedly scheduled to appear, is owned in part by VENU, a company founded by JW Roth who also is part-owner of the bi-weekly publication the Colorado Springs Independent. [Some of our freelance writers have penned pieces for the Independent in the past.–ed]
The Bulletin reached out to several staff members at the Independent for comment on the owner’s ties to the Bannon event, but by press time either had not heard back or the staff member had declined to comment.
