Orlando ‘Tea Party’ Draws Over 4,000 - With Videos
By Helen Eckinger
Singer Lloyd Marcus told the crowd assembled in Lake Eola Park on Saturday that he was going to give them his take on the first days of the Obama administration.
Then he shrieked.
That pretty much summed up the mood in the park Saturday afternoon, when more than 4,000 people attended the Orlando Tea Party, a conservative rally aimed at expressing discontent with Washington.
“This is maybe the greatest single gathering of God-fearing patriots in the history of Orlando, Florida,” local conservative radio host Bud Hedinger, who emceed the event, told the crowd.
The attendees, many of whom said they’d heard about the rally on Hedinger’s radio show, brandished flags and homemade signs bearing slogans such as “Repeal the pork or our bacon is cooked” and “Obama lied, liberty died.”
“We’re really scared about what’s happening in our country,” said Debby Whisenand, 71, of Largo in Pinellas County. She waved a sign that read “The problem with socialism is that you eventually run out of other people’s money” on one side, and “You can’t blame Bush anymore” on the other.
Her feelings were shared by Lisa Feroli, one of the event’s organizers, who said that a similar fear motivated her to e-mail Hedinger with the idea for the Orlando Tea Party.
“The goal was to get people united, to let people know that they aren’t alone in their feelings on despair,” Feroli said. “We want to speak out against the push toward socialization that we feel is taking place in our country.”
Several speakers addressed the crowd, estimated by Orlando police and event organizers at 4,200, on a variety of topics, including gun rights, freedom of speech, the dangers of communism and, most prevalently, the economy, especially the Obama administration’s bailout plan.
“We have had enough of massive government-driven bailout using our money,” Hedinger said, prompting the crowd to start chanting “U.S.A.” over and over.
The country’s economic woes weighed heavily on attendees, such as Ed Squire, 52, of Winter Springs. Holding a sign that read “Obama — he’s robbin U.S. not Robin Hood,” he said that he was worried about the current rate of government spending.
“There’s absolutely no way as a nation that we can sustain that kind of spending,” Squire said.
Several members of the crowd said they’d recently been laid off, including Ross Iannarelli, 66, of Port Orange, who said he’d just lost his job at an electrical-equipment company.
“They need to shove that bum out,” he said, referring to President Obama. “I hate seeing them spend my grandchildren’s money.”
Glenn Austin, 52, and his wife, Frankie, 43, of Oviedo, also said they were anxious about the economy. They chose to express their worries, however, in a rather novel way: They wrapped banners calling for the end of the Federal Reserve around the tiny waists of their Chihuahua, Pepper, and miniature pinscher-Chihuahua mix, Peanut.
“Everything’s gone to the dogs,” Frankie Austin said.
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God Bless you to those 4,200 Patriots in Orlando!
We need to keep this up. We need to organize and let our voices be heard. We the People will take our country back, so help us God!
Keep bangin’ the drums, people! Hopefully that beat will awaken the whole country.
BUT … if nothing changes, whats the next step?
A serious question that needs to be answered.
You and I both know where this is going: The Lefties want to destroy America as we’ve known her, and the Patriots are determined to stop the Lefties. However, if PD.com had a serious discussion on it, the FBI and SS would be climbing over Pat’s ass (again).
The left and the RINOs wants to make Citizens…scratch that–VOTERS out of millions of illegals before 2010–we cannot let that happen.
That’s me up there near the front with the pink backpack on. Had my Ranger Up shirt on. It was an awesome day!!!
We Chartered a bus from Tampa to Orlando to attend this rally. It was a great event and we must keep this going.
I have to say that the MSM is horrible as well. The local news cast simply understated the number of people that were there. They said, “…hundreds of people…” which I know was simply minimizing the rally.
We all know what the next step MUST be if these are not successful in making the Administration change course.
I have to admit, it is going to get worse before it gets better and that is optimistically looking at it.
GOD BLESS AMERICA AND HER PATRIOT WARRIORS!
Thank you all for attending that event, we need many more people to wake up and rattle the cage. I will be attending the upcoming Tea Party in my city April 15.
NMP
Two people stand out in my mind from the crowds:
First, the man holding up a sign and his Navy uniform from WWII. He stood there holding these things the entire time. Amazing.
Secondly, I noticed an elderly women come during the rally with a walker. She was decked out in red, white, and blue. As I was leaving and walking to my car I passed her. I asked her if she was alone and she said yes. I then asked her if I could help her get to where she was going. She said, “No. I came alone and I’ll get home alone, eventually.” She was 88 years old and slow, but very independent. She said she had been married three times previously, each time to a veteran of our armed forces. Each had since passed. She was currently in a 14 year relationship with another veteran who was 95 and couldn’t be there today, but she made it a point to attend events like these because she loves her country and it’s veterans. What a woman!!! Truly both are from one of the greatest generations. Both are true patriots.
got goosebumps from your story. It breaks my heart hearing stories like this. My uncle faught in WWII and would turn in his grave if he knew this was happening. Im glad he doesnt have to see it. They are and will be the greatest generation.
Now if she was 18 with a broken leg she would have expected someone to carry her
I will be there in HSV,Al. on 04/15.How would one spot a friend?
Wolverines!
If the press said 4,200 then there was likely more than 5,000. At the Lafayette, LA Tea Party by counting in groups of 25 I came up with 350. The press said just shy of 200. If had been an anti-America demonstration they would have said over 10,000.