Million Bob March

Written by Daniel John Dunevant on September 24, 2025, 9:40 am

The Million Bob March: Defending PBS and the Democratization of Imagination

For generations, public broadcasting has shaped the minds and imaginations of young Americans. For Jay Jay Weinstein, founder of the Million Bob March, that influence was deeply personal.

As a child, Jay would sit in front of PBS watching Bob Ross transform blank canvases into vibrant landscapes. Though his own early attempts at painting fell short, Ross’s gentle encouragement left an indelible mark. “There are no mistakes, just happy accidents,” Ross would say, instilling a lesson in creativity and resilience.

Another PBS figure, Mark Kistler, helped Jay discover the joy of drawing. When friends and family began to notice his talent, Jay knew art would be central to his life. At just ten years old, he told his mother he wanted to attend the American Academy of Art — a dream that eventually came true. Without Ross and Kistler, Jay says, he wouldn’t be who he is today.

That formative influence is why Jay is determined to defend PBS. The Trump administration’s funding cuts to public broadcasting struck at the very institution that had shaped his future. In response, Jay drafted legislation not only to restore PBS funding but also to affirm its role in what he calls the “democratization of imagination.”

The Power of Public Broadcasting

Art is important in people’s lives because it allows us to think differently about the world. It builds confidence, fosters empathy, and helps us live more freely. Bob Ross, in particular, taught millions that there is no wrong way to create, that imagination is the only limit. For Jay, removing PBS from the equation risks stripping countless children of mentors like Ross and Kistler — guides who help young people embrace failure, cultivate creativity, and see the world in new ways.

A Joyful Protest for PBS

The Million Bob March, scheduled for October 29 on Ross’s birthday, is Jay’s way of sending a message: people care about PBS. Those unable to travel to Washington, D.C. can still participate through a nationwide “Day of Bobservance.” Jay envisions the event as more than a protest — a joyful demonstration that blends art, empathy, and civic action.

The Role of Empathy in Politics

Empathy, he argues, is what’s missing from today’s politics. Modern partisanship, especially the way some Republicans have weaponized terms like “woke,” has eroded space for genuine dialogue. This narrowing of discourse, Jay believes, undermines opportunities for mutual understanding and growth.

As I reflected in my own interview with Jay: “It’s much easier to put up your mental barriers when those that are different are angry. But given the right approach and the right information, I think anyone can change.”

Defending the Democratization of Imagination

For Jay, PBS is about more than programming; it’s about access to the American dream. Public broadcasting gives children of every background, regardless of economic status, a chance to cultivate creativity. In an era where many families struggle with stagnant wages, unaffordable housing, and rising education costs, PBS remains one of the last equalizers.

The defunding of public broadcasting is really the defunding of imagination itself. All of us deserve to dream and to achieve the fullness of what we are meant to be.

The Million Bob March is his call to action — a reminder that protecting PBS means protecting the creative spirit of America.

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