Students rally for political activism
While millions of Americans rushed to get their taxes filed in time for the Thursday deadline, several hundred people gathered at the Old Court House on Main Street for a rally sponsored by the Cache Valley Tea Party Coalition (CVTPC).
The event consisted of nine speakers from various political organizations, such as the Independence Caucus, the Utah 912 Project, the John Birch Society, the Constitution Party, and ended with a speech by USU sophomore David Nilson, president of USU Young Americans for Liberty.
Young and old alike gathered on the lawn outside the Old Court House, many standing with signs at the corner, some laying on the grass and others sitting on benches or lawn chairs, shouting “Yes!” or “No!” when called for by the speakers. Booths were set up and fliers passed out about the CVTPC’s mission, illegal immigration, and the Independence Caucus. Pocket-sized copies of the U.S. Constitution, a key subject talked about during the rally, were also handed out.
Most of the speeches were about encouraging people to be politically active and standing up for limited government, faith in God and holding true to the Constitution. Several of the speakers urged those in attendance to vote for those candidates who hold their values.
“We are the most apathetic people on the face of the planet,” said Patti Bateman, cache coordinator of the Utah 912 Project.
Bateman said a nation cannot survive unless it has been nurtured by its citizens, and the U.S. has not been nurtured and the citizens have been unwatchful. She described the present government as a power-thirsty monster.
Nilson held up about a foot-length chain and quoted Thomas Jefferson, “‘In questions of power, let no more be said of confidence in man, but bind him down from mischief by the chains of the constitution.’ I love that quote. I love the imagery of that quote. The Constitution was designed to limit our government to keep them in their proper place, to be bound down by these chains so that we may be liberated by these chains.”
The people have not held these chains in place to stop the government from expanding, Nilson said. These chains, he said, are made of natural law, “eternal principles of truth which limit the government.” He suggested that, for example, some of the links could be no taxation without representation, checks and balances and separation of powers.
Scott Bradley, a candidate for the U.S. Senate who is campaigning against Sen. Bob Bennett, R-Utah, also spoke, giving a rundown about the Constitution and the powers given to the people. He said, “We are a nation at risk,” and the only way to restore the nation is to adhere to the Constitution as the founders of the U.S. did in the early days of the country.
“There is a war going on for the very soul of this nation,” Bradley said.
USU freshman Tyson McBride was one of those watching from the grass. He said he came to CVTPC’s rally because he wanted to know what the people of his community are interested in. A CNN story about the Tea Party perhaps not being quite racist or bigoted also influenced his decision to come, McBride said. He said he saw some protesters of the Tea Party hanging around and none of the Tea Partiers treated them badly.
The Tea Party has been reaching heights of fame and infamy in the media, especially since former Alaska Gov. and 2008 vice presidential candidate Sarah Palin spoke at the National Tea Party Convention held in early February in Nashville, Tenn. Tea Party protesters were blocked behind barricades on Capitol Hill the day the health care reform bill passed because of the insults shouted at gay and black lawmakers during a rally on March 21.
– la.stewart@aggiemail.usu.edu
