Dressed like a true Indianapolis Santa Claus, complete with a Colts-themed Santa hat, Mike Bauer traveled nearly 600 miles and spent $400, but claims “it was all worth it.” Michael Brady brought 18 buses from South Carolina and wore a velvet costume replicating that of an early American patriot. Eric Holmburg arrived with a camera and two-man crew, aiming to shoot a documentary.
These men joined thousands of others for the March on Washington, a culmination of the “Tea Parties” held by conservatives around the country. The September 12th event, held on the lawn of the Capitol Building, protested high taxes and excessive government spending.
Brady, a South Carolina Tea Party organizer, said, “The government is spending dollars we don’t have. You can’t do that as an individual, a business, or as a country- you go broke.”
Bauer added, “I’ve got grandchildren and I want to preserve something for them and they’re going to be around to pay for [the deficit]. [President Barrack Obama] seems like he has a good heart but he needs to look at what he’s doing to our kids, his kids.”
Predominantly sponsored by FreedomWorks, an organization led by former House of Representatives Majority Leader Dick Armey, the event attracted between 750,000 and 1.5 million people.
The DC Metro reported use by 437,624 people, well above the average Saturday usage of 335,000 to 350,000.
In response to the outpouring of support for the March, Donald Elliot of South Carolina said, “I believe the people are truly and honestly angry. They’re seeing the Constitution stepped on and are going to correct it. The only way to stop it is to become active.”
“The most memorable part was standing on the lawn of the Capitol, looking down Pennsylvania Avenue, and as far as I could see was freedom loving patriots like myself,” said Kim Misch of Fallston, Maryland.
Protesters found themselves exercising their First Amendment rights in desperation for change.
“We’re not a politically active family. We’ve never done the protests before, but this is out of control. We have to stand up for what we believe in. This is the best country in the world and we don’t need to change it. We don’t want our money going to people who aren’t working,” Florida resident Liz Tirrell said.
Many rally attendees attacked Congress, President Obama, and Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi specifically. Signs included “It’s 1939 Germany all over again” and “Cash 4 Crooks: Trade in your worthless politicians.”
Holmburg said about Obama, “On a scale of 1-10, Obama is well intentioned. I’m thankful America has a black president. It’s enormously healing- but not this black president. He’s a product of humanistic, socialistic, statist, black theology.”
The march also protested current policies, specifically the proposed health care bill. Christina Durnigan, said, “[The government] can’t even be trusted with a used car bill and they want to run our health care?”
Speakers included President of FreedomWorks Matt Kibbe and Republican Senator Jim De Mint.“The President warned us if we disagree with him, he’s going to call us out. Well Mr. President, we are out!” De Mint said.
Some protestors believe this is just the beginning of like rallies; Richard Navikas from Lusby, Maryland, who attended the April 15th Tea Party in California, said, “If the government continues this way, we’ll have five times the number of people next time!”
The White House and FreedomWorks could not be reached for comment.
Additional reporting by Katie Clarke.
Kate Froehlich can be reached for question and/or comment at [email protected].
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