STARKVILLE — Bearing flags, signs and disgust for the federal government, more than 100 people rallied Thursday in front of the Oktibbeha County Courthouse as part of the Starkville Tea Party”s Repeal, Replace and Restore Tax Day Rally.
It was the second year in a row the Starkville Tea Party rallied in front of the Oktibbeha County Courthouse on Tax Day.
“Many of us met here last year as a million others met in their communities to call upon government to remove pork, cut taxes and spending,” said Robert Allen, a conservative writer and speaker who addressed the crowd Thursday. “We”re back again to call upon the government we will have after this year”s elections to repeal the health care bill … and to restore constitutional government to we the people.”
Much of the talk Thursday centered on the health care bill recently signed by President Barack Obama, big government spending and high taxes. Tea Partiers also spoke out against illegal immigration and questioned whether or not Obama is a U.S. citizen, and what implications it could have on the measures he signs into law.
Allen said he is frustrated because he feels the government is not listening to the will of its citizens, despite the high turnout at Tea Party gatherings around the country last year.
“Tea partiers did all we were asked to do and more,” Allen said. “Yet, the politicians in this current leftist-controlled government ignored us. In an in-your-face, contentious manner, they voted in the very thing 60 to 70 percent of America instructed them not to do. This is tyranny.”
Allen encouraged those in attendance to vote for conservative candidates in elections from the local to the national level. He also told the group to tune in to conservative media outlets, write to elected leaders, watch polls at elections and support U.S. troops.
Russ Latino, a conservative writer, commentator and attorney from Jackson, spoke about many of the same issues. But what impressed Latino was the number of people who have attended Tea Party rallies over the past year.
“As I”ve had the opportunity over the past year, both on the radio and to go around to speak at different venues, the thing that has amazed me is not what comes out of the podium, but it”s just the level of energy in the people of the state of Mississippi that are dedicated now, that were perhaps a little apathetic, but have become dedicated to preserving the cause of liberty in the state of Mississippi and in our country,” Latino said.
Karin Kessler of Starkville attended the Starkville rally because she is concerned with the federal government”s recent spending.
“I”m extremely interested in the way that our government is taking us,” Kessler said. “I don”t like the fact that my granddaughter … is 9 months old and she”s already in debt, and she will be for a long time. She”s still in a stroller and doesn”t have much to say about it, so I”m trying to represent our future, to get people to listen that you can”t keep spending.”
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