Chicago Tea Party


It was cold, about 27 degrees (wind chill 7 to 9 degrees), yet we still had a decent turnout. Chicago was 1 of 45 locations
around the country that had a Tea Party. (Today was only the 1st Tea Party, more to come)

If I had to guess we had anywhere between 300 to 400 people. (I’m bad at guessing)
We did take up 3 plus city blocks when we marched from the Daley Plaza to the Tribune Tower. The Chicago
police gave us an escort and blocked off traffic as we made our way across streets, holding traffic back until we all passed.

(Pictures from my cell phone)




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online report FROM: CHICAGO PUBLIC RADIO
Protestors Hold 'Chicago Tea Party' Against Government Spending Plans
Produced by Lynette Kalsnes on Friday, February 27, 2009



(Audio report at link)
http://www.wbez.org/Content.aspx?audioID=32450

About 300 people gathered in downtown Chicago today to protest the
government's response to the economic crisis. Chanting: Dump the Tea. Dump the Tea.

The group calls itself the Chicago Tea Party. That's in response to a rant against the mortgage bailout
plan by a CNBC reporter, who suggested dumping derivative securities into Lake Michigan.

Chicago word processor Michelle Jacobsen carried a sign that said, "Honk to End Government Gluttony."
JACOBSEN: Throwing more money at big businesses that are taking it and spending it on bad things is a
bad idea. I think bailing out people who have made bad mortgages is a bad idea because it's throwing
money at a problem that's just going to make it worse.

Nearby, Chicagoan Bob Burger carried an image of President Obama with the word "Chaos".
BURGER: I want the government to stay out. We're going through a market correction. We need to let it
correct and then we'll be out of this quickly.

Several people called for transparency and accountability in government.

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Some of the other cities

'Tampa Tea Party' Pours Scorn On Stimulus Package
http://www2.tbo.com/content/2009/feb...mulus-package/

San Diego - "Tea Party" Held To Protest Stimulus Bill (Video at this link)
http://www.cbs8.com/Global/story.asp?S=9919532

Arizona Taxpayer Tea Party Stirs Grassroots to Action
http://www.evliving.com/2009/02/26/3...ots-to-action/

Dallas, TX - Santelli tea party comes to Dallas
http://economywatchblog.dallasnews.c...mes-to-da.html

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FYI
The 25-foot sculpture is titled "God Bless America"