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Harbingers: What January 6 and Charlottesville Reveal About Rising Threats to American Democracy

Politics & Public Policy

Harbingers: What January 6 and Charlottesville Reveal About Rising Threats to American Democracy

A Conversation with Author Timothy Heaphy

Friday, July 11, 2025
11:30 a.m. - 1:00 p.m.
Doors at 11:15am / Lunch at 11:30am / Forum begins 12:00pm

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"Apathy is a bigger threat to democracy than anger." – Tim Heaphy

As lead investigator into both January 6 and Charlottesville, Tim Heaphy discovered that American democracy was headed toward a reckoning. In his book Harbingers, which he completed before the November 2024 election, Tim concluded that apathy poses greater threats to the rule of law than would-be autocrats, and that widespread civic engagement would be essential to safeguarding our values and restoring faith in our institutions. He proposes a number of everyday measures that Americans can and must start taking right now in order to restore our faith and hope in the future.

Heaphy served as Chief Investigative Counsel of the House of Representatives Select Committee to Investigate the January 6th Attack on the United States Capitol. He also oversaw the independent investigation into the August 12, 2017 riot in Charlottesville, Virginia. He is currently a partner at Willkie, Farr & Gallagher LLP and previously served as the Obama-appointed US Attorney for the Western District of Virginia. He lives in Charlottesville, Virginia with his family.

Join us at the City Club to hear from Tim Heaphy on the forces that seek to divide our nation, and how we can protect democracy in the years ahead.

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"Whether January 6 marks the start of a new era of political violence or serves as an historic wake-up call will depend on how people of goodwill respond to the challenge. I urge you to read this book, then do your part.” — Adam Kinzinger, author of Renegade: Defending Democracy and Liberty in Our Divided Country

"Heaphy distills the common lessons of two stains on our history to tell us what happened and how we all can do better — governments, social media providers, and ordinary citizens. His deeply informed work is essential reading for all who hope to learn from the past so we don't repeat it. — Former FBI director James Comey, author of A Higher Loyalty: Truth, Lies, and Leadership

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Online ticket sales for this forum will conclude on Thursday, July 10th at noon. For more information regarding ticketing/registration, contact Stacy Roper at (216) 621-0082.

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The livestream will be available beginning at 12:00pm. Have questions for the Q&A? Text them to 330.541.5794.

Production and distribution of City Club forums in partnership with Ideastream Public Media is generously provided by PNC and the United Black Fund.

The ideas expressed in City Club forums are those of the speakers, and not of the City Club, Ideastream Public Media, or their sponsors.

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