Community organizers of a different stripe gathered in Raleigh this weekend to display their anger about the stimulus, big government and ever increasing taxes. The movement known as the New American Tea Party flooded the grounds of the state capitol with a coalition of conservative groups. A crowd of about 300 got a steady stream of quotes from our founding fathers in rousing speeches as well as pork of both the spending and BBQ kinds.
Thomas Jefferson made an appearance along with several revolutionary flags all that shared a common trait: Rattlesnakes with the motto of "Don't Tread on Me!" which also became the chat of the rally. Some inspired soul even brought out a couple of pitchforks and, fittingly, a manure fork.
By the end of the rally, citizen activists vowed to get involved and make their voices heard by their lawmakers at the local, state and federal level.
Some photos from the rally can be found on the web here.
Future Tea Parties are scheduled as follows:
Saturday, April 4, 2009; Charlotte, 11:00-1:00pm Marshall Park, Second and McDowell Streets
Tuesday, April 7, 2009; Wilmington, 5:30 pm On the Waterfront
Wednesday, April 15, 2009
- Edenton, 5pm Edenton Courthouse Green
- Raleigh, 4:30-6pm Federal Courthouse. New Bern Ave.
- Raleigh, 6:30pm – 8:30 pm NC State Capitol Building
- Asheville, 4:30 pm Asheville City Hall and Buncombe County Courthouse
- Greensboro, 12-1pm Center City Park (between Elm and Davie streets)
- Charlotte, 2pm-4pm City Hall Lawn,600 E. Trade Street
- Franklin,12pm Town Square in Franklin, North Carolina
Harry Dale Collingwood says
Why is it that government officials/representatives seem to be above the law and the country’s citizenry is held to account? The corruption that is reported by our news outlets has everyone that I meet up in arms about what our “representatives” are doing to “Our” Country! Doesn’t Our Constitution tell us that when we are oppressed by a corrupt,unconstitutional goverment that we are to rise up and overthrow it? I should be so careful lest someone come and drag me out of my houe in the middle of the night!