The Crystal Lake spin-off of the national TEA (Taxed Enough Already) Party movement initiated by Crystal Lake Republican precinct committeeman Jim Thompson (seen passing out tea bags to the right), exceeded his expectation of 50 demonstrators by eleven times, according to Illinois and McHenry County Libertarian Party Chair Dave Brady of Wonder Lake.
Brady counted 550 protesters.
This will be the first of a lot of posts about the TEA Parties in McHenry County.
There were so, so many good homemade signs.
I’ll keep running pictures over the next I don’t know how many days until I get them all posted.
Peaceable assembly.
Promised in the First Amendment to the United States Constitution.
But the Crystal Lake Police were out in force.
I can only begin to wonder why, because the location was suggested by the CL Police Chief to organizer Thompson.
The Crystal Lake protest got recognition on WIND-AM as Chuck Barham, Senior Marketing Consultant, was in the area.
In keeping with the national focus of the TEA Party movement, President Barack Obama was criticized.
It wasn’t just the national tax hikers who were catching heat. Newly-minted Democratic Party Governor Pat Quinn’s proposed 50% income tax hike stimulated some signs, too.
Lots of cars honked.
But it was most exciting when big trucks drove by with horns blasting. Above you seen the front end of a yellow Safety-Kleen truck filling the intersection with noise.
More later. Click to enlarge the photos.
Other stories that might be of interest:
I was there – IT was wonderful too see so many of the long Silent Majority stand up to be heard.
For me this was my first time protesting anything in my life.
The long asleep American people are finally awakening from their indifference…listen to them roar! How glorious.
Where were you guys when President Bush tortured in your name? (We executed Japanese officers after WWII for waterboarding our guys!) Where were you guys when Bush authorized illegal surveillance of US citizens’ phone calls and e-mail? (This continues under the Democrats, but no one seems to care.) Where were you guys when Bush violated the Posse Commitatus by ordering troops home to put down possible domestic unrest? You all seem so worried about the constitution now. Where were you before?