"Tea Party comes to Metro-East"

According to the Belleville News-Democrat, a leading newspaper for southern Illinois:

The Tea Party came to the metro-east Saturday afternoon, and with it came hundreds carrying American flags and signs denouncing President Barack Obama and recent policies coming out of Washington, D.C.

Organizers estimated about 500 gathered at Woodland Park to unite and protest "socialist" activities and demand change. A number of speakers addressed the crowd, many of whom were carrying American flags, wearing T-shirts and caps with American flags embossed on them or toting signs protesting higher taxes and even some calling to impeach the president.

The Republican Party, the Constitution Party and the Libertarian Party were all represented, and had information tables right next to each other under the Gazebo.

The mood of the even was clearly unity in knocking off big taxers and big spenders for November. The event's chief organizer was quoted by the News-Democrat:

Alton Tea Party co-founder Rhonda Linders said the rally Saturday and the series of organized events held since early last year are non-partisan. She said Saturday's gathering showed that more and more people are fed up with overwhelming government taxation through social policies that she claims are unconstitutional.

"It doesn't matter if you're Democrat or Republican. This isn't Republican, Democrat, independent, Libertarian," Linders said. "It's Americans."

Editor's Note - I am currently on a nationwide tour of Tea Party events. I started with Metro-East. And as moving as the speakers were, near the Libertarian Party booth, there was a WWII Vet in a wheelchair. He had joined at 17, and participated in the invasion of Europe, and Battle of the Bulge. Nothing compares to the overwhelming experience of shaking his hand. I was humbled, and immediately broke into tears. I told him all America thanked him for his service.