Saturday Rallies

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Both the South Florida 912 Project and the South Florida Tea Party had rallies on this cloudy, rainy Saturday. First, the South Florida Tea Party assembled in honor of the 1 year Tea Party anniversary of Rick Santelli’s Rant on CNBC (2/19/09). A crowd of 30-50 showed up at noon on the corners of Okeechobee and Military Trail. (Another group stood at PGA and Military Trail.) Everett Wilkinson, one of the founders of the group and its leader and spokesman, took a video of the participants with signs protesting government spending, the size of government,the health-care reform bill, West Palm Beach term limits, and numerous other issues. Ed Lynch, candidate for Congressional District 19 stood with us. There was a lot of traffic at the fast moving intersection and we got the usual honks and thumbs up as well as some not so favorable hand gestures.

Next was the South Florida 912 Project’s Rally for America with Elizabeth at Okeechobee and 441. People lined up with their signs around the corner as the 50 or so demonstrators joined Elizabeth Andrijauskas. There was slightly less traffic at this intersection and the cars went by somewhat slower but we got a lot more honks so this neighborhood was more supportive. Candidates Lynch and Tami Donnally (Florida House 85) joined us as well as Dennis Lipp (Vice Mayor of Loxahatchee Groves). Joe Budd came with a giant flag. People from as far away as Miami participated. South Florida 912 Project co-founders Shannon and Doug Armstrong mixed with the crowd and spoke with Everett when he joined us at this rally too. The mist turned into a heavy drizzle as the crowd persisted with umbrellas and ponchos.

A number of members of RCPB participated in the rallies, including Mercedes Garcia (who stands with Elizabeth on many weekends), Delia Garcia Menocal, Carol Hurst, Madi Page, and Fred and Iris Scheibl.

As many of us transition to activist activities directly helping candidates for public office, it’s important to make a visible statement every so often so that the public knows that the ‘sleeping giant’ is still awake!