Organizers expect hundreds to turn out for local ‘tea party'

A group of local men is organizing a tea party in a peaceful demonstration against the federal government spending several billion dollars in the past few months, including the stimulus package.
 
And there won't be crumpets at this tea party.
 
Organizers said they'll burn thousands of tea bags, 2,000 of which were donated for the event, hand out 1,000 copies of the Constitution, and have entertainment and guest speakers.
 
"It's not about politics, it's about principle," said Howard Blitz, one of the event organizers.
 
Participants are encouraged to bring their own tea bags to the event, which begins at 5 p.m. Wednesday at Gateway Park in Yuma. Independent organizers around the country will hold similar events that day.
 
Blitz, along with Russ Clark, Isaac Barrera and Gary Peters, will also send a petition that asks lawmakers pay attention to their actions, something Barrera said they don't do now.
 
"You're lucky if you talk to someone," Barrera said. He said it's as if lawmakers are saying "Please go away, you're bothering us."
 
He said they hope the petition, which will be available to sign at the event, will make lawmakers stand up and take notice.
 
"It's important because Americans need to have their voices heard - Yumans need their voices heard," Peters said. "We don't feel they're doing what the taxpayers want them to do.
 
"A lot of people have a dog in this fight."
 
The men said they'll send the petition to members of local, state and federal government.
 
The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, the $787 billion federal stimulus package passed in February, is just one of the reasons Peters said he is upset with the government.
 
Peters said many members of Congress voted on it without reading the more than 1,000-page bill and "it happened too quick," referring to the bill's process in the legislature.
 
"I never felt in my entire life I had to check on Congress as many times as I have in the last few months," he said.
 
To help, Peters said local, state and federal lawmakers "have to be on the same sheet of music to get us through this."
 
Also at the event, organizers will collect nonperishable food items. The men said they're requesting "pork and beans" or other pork products because they're opposed to pork in government. But all of the food is appreciated and will go to a good cause: the Yuma Community Food Bank.
 
For more information about the tea party demonstration, visit colorado riverteaparty.com.


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Stephanie A. Wilken can be reached at swilken@yumasun.com or 539-6857.