Tea party Saturday for Bill of Rights

Hundreds of Yumans are expected at one birthday party this weekend in Yuma County - but this party isn't about cake and ice cream.

Organizers with local group The Colorado River Tea Party will host a Bill of Rights Tea Party Saturday to educate and inform Yuma County residents about the Constitution. Tuesday will mark the 218th anniversary of the ratification of the Bill of Rights.

Organizers say the federal government has moved away from the Constitution, and they'd like to help bring it back.

"We've got some serious issues in this country, and it's because of the violations that have taken place," said Yuman Howard Blitz, member of the group who will also speak at the event Saturday.

The nonpartisan event is from 10 a.m. to noon Saturday at the Arizona Market Place, 3351 S. Avenue 4E.

Blitz recently attended a Continental Congress conference where, he said, representatives from 48 states came together to discuss current issues in America.

"Really, the whole focus of the event was what we're going to do to get the country back to constitutional government."

The idea of a Continental Congress meeting is not a new concept - it was one of the first in how the American government was formed.

"The founders did a Continental Congress, so let's try that method," Blitz said.

At the meeting, he said, the group broke into 13 subcommittees and decided on 13 different topics to focus on, including the role of the federal government to print money and health care.

Blitz said the topics are areas that the government has unconstitutionally gotten involved in. And, he said, he'll talk about that on Saturday.

The representatives at the recent Continental Congress, Blitz said, drafted instructions for federal and state officials, in request of the American public, specifically on how to get back to following the Constitution.

Organizers hope collecting signatures will make government officials listen. But Blitz said he's not sure if they're going to listen to numbers, saying representatives have been selfish and not listening to what the public wants.

"The American people have the power within them to basically change their government every two years. They need to pay attention to what their representatives are doing.

"We need to pay attention to the issues."

Blitz said most people don't know the Constitution, that's why it's so important to educate people.

"I think the tea parties are very helpful because it brings to light this information and people can learn from it."

For more information about the group and/or the event, visit www.coloradoriverteaparty.com.

Organizers encourage people to bring their own chairs to the event.