Greenville’s Tea Party attendees rallied for smaller government
Posted by The Skyliner on April 22nd, 2009Kyra Alexander
Staff Writer
Thousands of demonstrators gathered last Friday in Greenville to protest the current state of affairs. (Photo by Daniel Jamison / The Skyliner)
At 6 p.m. on Friday, April 17 at the Bi-Lo Center plaza, thousands rallied to cheer, boo and chant on a variety of political issues dealing with government fiscal responsibility.
They called it a Tea Party. The Tea Party was organized by Upstate Young Republicans and marked the final protest of the week. The “tea” in Tea Party stands for “taxed enough already.”
Along the same lines as the Boston Tea Party, they both are representative of the fact that Americans are not willing to submit to unnecessary and unethical government demands on the people.
With the sight of American Flags, Colonial Flags, personally made posters and other anti-spending messages, you could tell that patriotism was in the air. One sign said, “Forget the Tea, Throw Congress Overboard” and another said, “political pirates are stealing my country.”
“Our goal at the Greenville Post-Tax Day Tea Party was to create a non-partisan event where the Silent Majority could express our collective dissent against the Bailouts and unchecked Federal Deficit spending,” the Upstate Young Republicans said.
Gov. Mark Sanford spoke at the rally. He talked about overspending by state government, and the crowd roared with approval.
“If you look back at history, you will see civilizations that have spent themselves into oblivion,” Sanford said.
Lt. Gov. Andre Bauer told the crowd that there are many ways to save money, including not hiring architects for each school built across the state but maybe one to design a model that all can use.
“Going to the Tea Party renewed in me a sense of loyalty to my country and inspired me to cease being a member of the silent majority,” Whitney Owens, junior elementary education, said.
U.S. Congressman Gresham Barrett, R-SC, who is running for South Carolina governor in 2010 and voted in favor of the bailout legislation passed last October, was drowned out in boos as he stood before the crowd “to be held accountable” and defended what he said was a strong conservative voting record.
Other speakers included U.S. Sen. Jim DeMint, R-SC, Mike Gallagher, Russ Cassell, Bob McClain, and North Greenville’s Dr. Tony Beam, vice president of student services.
“I went because I’m tired of people complaining about the government and the economy and not doing anything. I feel that getting organized and showing support are the first steps in taking action,” Jason Lockaby, senior English, said.