Several Hundred Gather at Grand Rapids, Michigan Tea Party Protest
Here in Grand Rapids, about three hundred to four hundred people gathered in Riverside Park to listen and participate in a two hour rally organized by the Tea Party of West Michigan. The rally was dotted with the colorful and bold signs that characterized earlier Tea Parties, with signs reading "No National Socialism," "NObama," "Enough is Enough," and signs criticizing the recent cap-and-trade global warming bill. Over the course of the rally, protesters advocated a number of different positions that all fell under the traditional rubric of rightwing political thought. Specifically, there was a lot of emphasis on limited government, religion, and self-reliance.
The Tea Party rally began with a soap box that allowed audience members sixty seconds each to talk about what was on their mind and what they thought about the direction of the country. In keeping with the theme of the Fourth of July, many speakers thanked veterans for their military service or were veterans themselves. Along with saluting military service, speakers at the soap box hit on traditional conservative rightwing themes-the need to bring prayer back into the public schools, the importance of religion, the dangers of government dependency through social programs such as welfare and Medicare, immigration, and the need for a more power to be given to states and individuals. Speakers also argued that more rallies and protests are needed and urge everyone to connect with those in attendance to organize similar events in the future.
Following the soap box, there was a formal program MCed by local radio host Denny Gillem that consisted of several speakers interspersed with patriotic music. A Tea Party of West Michigan activist spoke first and emphasized that this rally and previous rallies were the work of a small group of people and that more can be done with more participation from those who are outraged by the government's policies. The next speaker talked at length about the founding fathers of the United States and their sacrifices and drew links between their patriotism and that of the assembled Tea Party protesters. The following speaker discussed the importance of the Declaration of Independence and talked at length about how the document sets up a foundation for limited government. The speaker criticized several current policies and political issues-growing debt, abortion, health care, and global warming-and said that all of them are examples of the federal government over reaching its power. The speaker paid particular attention to recently passed global warming legislation which the speaker asserted was based on dubious evidence about the reality of global warming.
The final two speakers discussed the importance of taking the Tea Party energy to the ballot box and discussed the need to replace "non-representing Representatives" such as Grand Rapids area Congressman Vern Ehlers who have not advocated strong conservative positions. The two speakers-one from the Independence Caucus and one a candidate against Ehlers-criticized Congress and Republicans as being beholden to special interests and the political parties.
For Grand Rapids area Tea Party activists, future plans include a rally on July 17 at the Federal Building against taxes and a possible debate between the candidates in Michigan's governor's race. Aside from that, organizers implored people to get involved with the Tea Party and to take individual initiative by pressuring their legislators and talking with their neighbors.
Published by Alex Parsons
I'm a freelance writer living in West Michigan. View profile
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4 Comments
Post a CommentWhen millions of our own American workers cannot extend their hand to grasp it.
The silent majority must finally speak their mind and demand their rights to halt the illegal immigrant occupation of our country? Tell their local representative or state senator, we want every business and contractor using E-Verify NOW! Make it permanent, not voluntary for everybody. How many more inestimable amount of dollars must the US population spend to support illegal immigration--chain migration--and the millions who will never stop coming without serious enforcement? Is Americans supposed to forever pay for mandatory health care, education and an overbooked prison system for those who steal into our land? THE SILENT ONES SHOULD CALL THEIR POLITICAL PUBLIC SERVANT TODAY--NO AMNESTY! NO MORE FREE HANDOUTS! NUMBERSUSA for the truth.
They have already corrupted most of our politicians with campaign money and many financial inducements. They don't care about the hordes of criminals, the drug smugglers or other human garbage, as long as they can exploit the cheap labor?
Now the special interest lobby have to use confusing propaganda and lies, to tailor their agenda so the public will accept this ninth AMNESTY. The masterminds have stated that any path to citizenship means paying back taxes, paying a fine, learning English and the FBI searching for criminal backgrounds. The Obama administration has no intention of processing everyone that comes forward.
The Heritage Foundation admits it would cost $2.5 TRILLION DOLLARS. Where is that paramount of money coming from, when we are in the middle of a very deep recession with a jobless rate reaching near 11 percent? It is time for the quiet ones, to voice their apprehension to the politicians on Capitol Hill. These mostly lawyers and businessman only understan
The silent ones had better emerge from the woodwork? Yes! You know who I'm speaking about? There are millions out there, who don't condone any kind of a path to citizenship for illegal entrants to our country. The silent ones believe in the Rule of Law" and protecting our country from any enemy Domestic or foreign? They will not speak out till the last minute although they have committed themselves to fight, any fabricated path to citizenship--better known as AMNESTY. The silent ones are not so aggressive and more timid and shy away from the words like bigot, racist and xenophobe. They are none of these things, but are easily intimidated by these devious voices. The majority have surfed the internet and appended the the truth from the lies, flowing from the liberal press, open border, free traders and subversive groups They know these entities have been well funded by the corporate elitists, that insists on a well oiled wagon train of cheap labor from anywhere? They have already corru
Good job Grand Rapids Tea Partiers!
Did you ever wonder where the money for things like the subversion of the world's immigration laws may come from? Also, recently I'm seeing an ad campaign, using money we don't have, to sell us on a new health plan.
It seems to me as long as we allow people to print up fiat money there will be no place in the world where freedom can flourish.
If the Globalist oppose your efforts, paid for with real hard earned money, all they have to do is fire up the presses and shovel the money to any group that will oppose you.
Not only that but it seems they do it in such a way that the money to achieve THEIR goals is borrowed from them. Then we pay interest to a group outside of our country, like the Federal Reserve, on the creation and borrowing of OUR OWN money.
IN ESSENCE THEY BEAT US WITH OUR OWN STICK!