Weatherford TEA Party Report
Posted by Concerned Citizen on 16th April 2009
Well I could not have been more pleased with the turnout yesterday for the Weatherford TEA Party. The police estimated about 850 people at the peak of the event. Official estimates provided to QXFM 89.5 by the Weatherford Police Department put the final number between 1,200 and 1,500 people in attendance. People started arriving about an hour before the event and stood around talking about issues, handing out flyers and grabbing signs to carry. By the 4:00PM start time, a decent sized crowd had gathered neat the speaking platform. American and Texas flags covered the crowd in a sea of red, white and blue. Signs were held aloft proclaiming a wide variety of slogans all aimed at the same message, we are fed up.
The most encouraging thing to see was the diversity of ages in attendance. There were children waving flags and holding signs in the midst of teenagers and young adults cheering on the speakers. The range of adults in attendance stretched from college students just starting on their taxpaying journey to people way into their retirement ages. I even witnessed a blind woman brave the danger of walking in a public street, cane outstretched feeling the way in front of her, just so that her voice would be heard as well. We have a wonderful showing of veterans and even a couple of full uniform military personnel showed up, even though they are not supposed to appear in uniform at events such as these while. I for one was honored to have them there.
Just after 4:00PM we began our march. We started off on a small street near the assembly area and marched towards the courthouse square. 
Many people stood waiting for us to walk by. They waited on their front porches, at street corners and in front of businesses along the route. Almost off all of them were cheering the rally us on, some waving signs and banners of their own. After a few minutes we had reached South Main St and turned our march north towards the courthouse. They had shut down the outside lane of traffic for the march and as vehicles passed they shouted out measures of support and honked their horns as they passed us by. The march line stretched out over several city blocks and finally wove its way back to the original assembly grounds where after the pledge of allegiance, the national anthem and a short prayer we listened to people speak about the issues.
I cannot claim that I was enthralled by all of the speakers, but the young and vibrant JJ Williams and the colonial clad Judge Mark Riley, were the highlights for me. I was glad to have Ms. Williams speaking at the event to show all the young people in attendance that this was their issue too. She seemed to really connect with some of the teenagers in the crowd when she was speaking. Judge Riley in particular delivered a powerful speech that excited and energized the crowd, spurning shouts of agreement and the occasional, “Hell no!”
Members of the Parker County Young Republicans canvassed the event speaking directly to those who came to protest and signing people up for our mailing list. It is our sincere hope that we can build upon the energy displayed at the TEA Party and turn it into a political force, not just simply for change, but for reformation of this nation. I am sure there will be more events and other times in the future where the American people must stand together and demand that the government heed our call.
I was pleased to see the massive turnout of protestors all across this nation, most of whom were average everyday people from all walks of life and all political affiliations. I was also thrilled with the Governor of the great State of Texas, Rick Perry, as he attended several TEA Parties himself yesterday and sent a clear, concise message to the Federal government. Texans are a proud people who remember the cost of freedom and we will take no more of this. What did surprise me some was his discussion of secession with reporters after the events. I had heard that people were yelling the slogan at many of the rallies, but I just assumed that it was the normal call to secede we here so often down here when we disagree with what Washington does. However, to hear a sitting governor of Texas actually discuss the possibility of secession with a reporter is a chilling event. As you can see from this Dallas Morning News article, Governor Perry is not calling for secession, but he is also not discounting it as a possibility in the future if this long train of government abuses is not reconciled.
These are definitely interesting times we live in.
Here are the rest of the images:
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