Press Releases
PRESS RELEASE – FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Lee Fessler
570-971-4326
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WILLIAMSPORT TEA PARTY EMBRACES DIVERSITY
July 22, 2010 – The Williamsport Tea Party is dismayed at the current state of public discourse about the movement to which it belongs. Our stated mission from day one has embraced diversity in order to restore ethical and fiscal integrity to our government. In light of the accusations and implications flying around regarding the Tea Party movement, the Williamsport Tea Party reaffirms our commitment to nondiscrimination. We do not promote, condone, or tolerate racism in our membership or at our events, and we try to prevent displays of the same to the extent possible without infringing on individuals’ freedom of speech while on public property. We believe strongly in the equal protection of the law for every individual. We hold in the highest regard the natural human rights outlined in our nation's Declaration of Independence and Bill of Rights, which rightly apply to every individual no matter their race, color, gender, religion, sexual orientation, national origin, ethnic background, age, mental or physical disability, occupation, affiliation, socioeconomic status, or any other distinction.
Our government was instituted in order to protect and defend these natural rights. Our founding fathers envisioned a government which would impartially ensure the freedom of every individual to exercise his or her rights within the bounds drawn around them by the equal rights of others. "What is true of every member of the society, individually, is true of them all collectively,” wrote Thomas Jefferson, “since the rights of the whole can be no more than the sum of the rights of the individuals.” The founders understood that social justice is maximized through the steadfast impartial protection of individual rights.
However, our government has since become bogged down in unconstitutional endeavors which have violated our natural rights as often as it has defended them. In the name of equality, it has embarked on a mission of taking from some and giving to others through discrimination. The recent 2010 census specifically demands that you (and/or authorizes a paid census taker to) identify your personal distinctions – including race, gender, ethnicity, home ownership, and age – in order to facilitate this discrimination. These questions serve no other purpose and the census.gov website even boasts about this purpose. The central planners in Washington perceive that social justice is achieved through homogenization rather than embracing diversity. But through social and economic engineering, our government has become one of the foremost threats to individual natural rights and has served to harm social justice through the unintended consequences of its policies. Social justice cannot be achieved through discrimination.
It is the purpose of the Williamsport Tea Party to protest and try to reverse the self-defeating policies our government has foolishly adopted in contravention to its charter, the Constitution, which infringe on our inherent and inalienable natural rights. We invite all members of the community to join us in this endeavor even if – nay, especially if – you will add to our diversity. Civil rights and minority rights groups are welcome to collaborate with us in our efforts to protect liberty and justice for all. The smallest minority is the individual. None of us will have justice while even one of us is systematically oppressed. Please join us at our next public meeting on Thursday, August 5th, 7:00 pm, at 3570 W. 4th St., Williamsport. And visit us on the web at WilliamsportTeaParty.com.
PRESS RELEASE
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
WILLIAMSPORT TEA PARTY A HUGE SUCCESS
August 29, 2009 – Williamsport, PA – The Williamsport Tea Party, held this Saturday in Brandon Park, surpassed expectations despite the dark skies courtesy of tropical storm Danny and the looming threat of counter-protesters. Over four thousand patriots were counted entering through five designated entrance gates to the locally-organized protest rally. Most of them were carrying American and Gadsden “Don't Tread on Me” flags and various home-made signs advertising their disapproval of government spending and intrusive practices.
The rally started with the patriotic music of Lehigh Valley rock band Poker Face. The group then recognized the nation's tradition of freedom with an explanation and recitation of the Pledge of Allegiance and Military Oath and singing of the National Anthem. The military veterans in attendance as well as all who died fighting for our freedoms were honored with a resounding applause. But the core purpose of the event was to protest recent government practices seen by the attendees as outside the scope of their constitutional authority. The seven issues – excessive taxation, unfathomable indebtedness, poorly targeted national defense, pervasive political corruption, unconstitutional central banking, meddling central planning, and an unaccountable legislative paradigm – were detailed in a declaration scroll which all attendees were able to sign and which will be delivered to Congress to be entered into the Federal Register. About 100 feet of signatures were recorded. Some of these issues were explored further by speakers at the event, including Bob Basso as “Thomas Paine”, Jim Babka from DownsizeDC.org, and Sheila Weinberg from the Institute for Truth in Accounting. The rally was MC'd by KISS FM's Gary Chrisman.
Following the rally, the entire group of 4,000+ formed a parade down Market Street until they reached the bridge over the Susquehanna. Cross-streets were closed off by Williamsport Police as the protesters – flags and signs in hand and chanting various slogans against socialism, bailouts, and “czars” -- navigated the parade route. Cars and passers-by greeted the group mostly with approval and fellowship. Once the bridge was filled from shore to shore, boxes and bags of tea were cast over into the river in a symbolic act of civil disobedience.
The Williamsport Tea Party organization doesn't plan to stop with this one event however. The declaration scroll will be made available at various places throughout the community to gather even more signatures before being presented to Congress. They will also be participating in the national 9/12 March on Washington, DC. Hundreds of attendees have already signed up for the bus convoy that will arrive in the nation's capitol where upwards of three million protesters will hold a massive rally. The Williamsport Tea Party will also work to create a permanent community to help reform government. Those who are interested in joining may point their web browser to http://WilliamsportTeaParty.com/ and register.
The Williamsport Tea Party will hold its first major tea party on Saturday August 29th at 10:00 am in Brandon Park, downtown Williamsport, PA. The event will include a host of different speakers and activities including, two nationally recognized guest speakers, Jim Babka, President of DownsizeDC.org and Bob Basso, aka Thomas Paine, the You Tube superstar. Live entertainment will be included with local announcer, Gary Chrisman to MC for the event. The tea party will wrap-up with a march to the nearby Market Street Bridge where tea will be thrown into the Susquehanna River. Williamsport Tea Party organizers invite all people who love their country, but feel it is going in the wrong direction.
The Williamsport Tea Party exists to promote the restoration of ethical and fiscal integrity to our government. We speak out against the rapid and unconstitutional expansion in federal government, including such things as; higher taxes, irresponsible spending and other intrusive government practices, which threaten our free market system and the American dream for generations to come. The Williamsport Tea Party includes Americans from all different ethnicities, classes and political backgrounds. We’ve come together for one common purpose – to help restore responsibility to our government.
08.13.2009 – Bob Basso, aka Thomas Paine mentions Williamsport in new video
Bob Basso, aka Thomas Paine, has the audio from his new video played at the beginning of the Hannity Show on FOX News today. In this video, Bob mentions Williamsport, Pennsylvania as one of the places where, “We The People” are silent no more, standing up to fight for our country. Bob Basso will speak at the upcoming Tea Party Event on August 29th 2009 in Williamsport, PA.
See the new video at the following link:
http://www.foxnews.com/video2/video08.html?maven_referralObject=8164356&maven_referralPlaylistId=&sRevUrl=http://www.foxnews.com/hannity/index.html