Tea Party Protest In Washington, D.C.....And Elsewhere: Bookerista Roundup

Crowds - estimated from "tens of thousands" to "2 million" - today descended on Capitol Hill in what was billed as the "Taxpayer March On Washington", protesting the expansion of government spending and illustrating the network of conservative activists that has emerged in opposition to U.S. President Barack Obama's policies. Crowds filled nearly every pocket of open space near the west lawn of the Capitol. They marched from Freedom Plaza, adjacent to the White House (President Obama today left town), as shouts of "U.S.A." echoed through downtown Washington, D.C. and marchers dressed as colonials banged drums. Some people stayed stranded on Constitution Avenue as the program began near the Capitol, unable to find room to watch the speakers. Of course, bookeristas - some of whom were in attendance at today's main event in D.C. or similar events held across the country - have things to say:

"I Was There"

Bob Parks, a black conservative Republican blogger from Manassas, Va. who attended today's march against Big Government in Washington, D.C., has plenty of photos (some of which are shown in this post): "It’s being reported that around 2 million people came to the Tea Party in Washington, D.C. That’s gotta be true because we never saw the end of the march…Truly, a warm, courteous, friendly, angry mob if ever I saw one. The Park Service must like it whenever conservatives gather at The Washington Mall, because (unlike their ideological counterparts) there was no litter to be seen. It was great meeting new people and aside from the one woman who believed I was there taking pictures for ACORN, it was a very inspiring day."

Robert Broadus, a conservative Republican from Maryland, writes: "Media reports that 1.5 to 2 million people were at the 9/12 march today. Great turnout! Met some of my FB friends there, too. It was wonderful seeing so many people there -- Conservatives, Republicans, Libertarians, Indep[end]ents & the like. They held the Black Family Reunion just up the mall, so I got to speak with several Black Youth about the d[i]fferences between socialism & freedom as well :-)"

Ali Butts, a libertarian, writes on Facebook: "YES I went and it was refreshing talking to like minded individuals from Democrats, Republican, and L[i]bertarians." He adds: "A govt that is big enough to give you everything you want is big enough to take away everything have have."

Darneshia Calixto, a conservative Republican from Alexandria, Va., writes on Twitter: "LOVE the energy at this tea party!" She adds: "1.5 to 1.8 mill ppl @ this tea party! Take that Dems!". She also provides a photo of an "Obama care card".

Veronica Foxx, a conservative who attended today's march, writes on Facebook: "This is why I feel soooo disappointed right now. There were many people here today and the media at large ignored us!! The President left town to go to some organized healthcare townhall meeting!?! I strongly hate the media, including Fox News and I have no President."

Ron Miller, a conservative Republican from Maryland, writes on Facebook: "Inspiring day today at the DC Tea Party - ABC News said 1.5 million, others say 'tens of thousands' turned out today. I'm energized!" He responds to one of his Facebook friends: "Anthony, since you weren't there, you didn't hear the speakers who took Republicans and Democrats to task for actions dating back to the Bush Administration and its reckless spending, culminating in the TARP bailout passed before Obama took office. The GOP isn't running this thing; in fact, the speakers who were identified as GOP officials didn't get the warmest of receptions, either."

Jill Upson, a conservative from West Virginia, attended today's march in D.C. and writes on Twitter: "At DC teaparty, carrying biggest flag here." She adds: "Ok, there's always 1 inappropriate sign. But why next to me?"

Observers From Afar

Afrocity, a moderate-conservative Republican blogger, writes: "If I had my druthers and was not up to my ears in obligations this weekend, I would definitely be on that Tea Party Express to Washington D.C.. Again conservatives prove that the party of ass is not the only one that can rally and protest....We will see how long after the conservative demonstrations today it will take before the mainstream media points out all of the racist signage that says things like 'Read the Bill', ‘Don’t Thread On Me', 'Just Say No To Obamacare'. Who will get called a tea bagger this time around? How many guns will they find?"

Akindele Akinyemi, a conservative Republican in Detroit, Mich., wonders: why did it take so long for such a march to happen? He "is watching the National Tea Party protest on C-SPAN. How come people waited until President Obama got into office to do a tea protest? Have we ever marched for educational reform? Marched to stop domestic violence? Protested racial insensitivity towards other cultures in America? Marched to stop raising taxes PRIOR to Obama coming into office? Protested anti-intellectualism in public schools?"

Mr. Akinyemi continues his commentary: "The guy on C-SPAN said this tea protest is a counterculture. I disagree. A true counterculture will not come from marching, which is a 20th century ideology. It will come from stakeholders that embrace the Silver Rights Movement because it requires a different perspective on the battle. It means changing the way somebody sees what’s happening in their world – our world - so that we are ultimately creating fundamental change through a change in fundamental perspective; a paradigm shift. Our job in inner cities is to change the way Hispanic and black people see themselves and see their community. Our job in mainstream and corporate America is to change the way they see inner cities and see their own responsibilities. MOST (not all) of these people who are protesting will never come into areas where there is failing education and where senior citizens cannot get to a drug store to pick up a prescription drug because they have no way to get to the store."

Christine Byington, a conservative Republican in Greenville, S.C., writes on Twitter: "Wow. 1.5 million is quite the fringe, Mr. [Robert] Gibbs."

James Davermann, a conservative Republican in New York, writes on Facebook: "Wow..that's a pretty huge crowd. If I were the President I would skip town and pretend I had no idea what was going on, too!" He adds: "Obama watches Fox News more than anybody and he expects us to believe he doesn't know this is happening? Hard to miss that many people in your backyard. Emmanuel [sic] had to get him out of town and back on the stump, lol."

Coby Dillard, a conservative Republican in Norfolk, Va., writes on Twitter: "For all the trolls, #912dc is bigger than Obama...it's about years of people in DC acting the fool. Hopefully, it ends today." He continues: "When all #912dc opponents have to say is "they're racist!" you know we've won the argument." More: The left's missing the point...America came together on 9/12/01. We're reconvening today." And more: "Here's hoping #912dc leads to change in '10 and '12." And more: "For those who missed it, #912dc is FOR America, not for/against a president."

Lewis Gilchrist, a conservative: "While Obama is fraternizing and squandering the working citizens' money, FreedomWorks Foundation, a conservative organization led by former House Majority Leader Dick Armey, has fueled the Washington D.C. Economy by organizing approximately 2 million people from across the country for the 'March on Washington.'"

Giacomo Knox, a conservative in Los Angeles, Calif., writes: "#912dc dissent is patriotic".

Juliette Ochieng, a conservative Republican in Los Angeles, Calif., writes on Twitter: "Can't wait to see what the ground looks like on the National Mall. Certainly no worse than it did after Inauguration Day 2009."

Nolita Salter, a conservative, writes on Facebook: "2 million and growing at the Tea Party in Washington DC! Democracy at its best! America is waking up to the crazy radical czars, this government takeover healthcare plan, and the outright LIES! NOBAMA! 2010 will be the year!"

StewTweet, a conservative Republican in Virginia, writes: " I saw no signs pertaining 2 race today. U have 2 accept that a lot of people don't like BO's [M]arxist policies. Race not a factor".

Eric Thompson, a conservative Republican in Houston, Texas, writes on Facebook: "Damn, I wish I could have gone to be in the company of like-minded individuals!!"

April Williams, a conservative Republican in Tampa, Fla., writes on Facebook: "You know the liberals hate this!! A peaceful assembly protesting the bloating of our government just like our [F]ounding [F]athers intended."

Re: The Black Folks At The D.C. Protest

Coby Dillard, a conservative Republican in Norfolk, Va., writes about the black speakers: "There's a black woman [Deneen Borelli, of Project 21] on stage at #912dc. That flushing sound you hear is the liberal narrative." He adds: "Oh, boy. A black man AND a black woman, speaking at #912dc? What say you, liberals?" More: "Mason Weaver [a rally speaker] -- 'hear a black man speak to you without a TelePrompter.' That was BRUTAL". And more: Ok, have to say here, I'm not a big [conservative entertainer] Lloyd Marcus fan. That's just me."

Media Coverage Of The D.C. Protest

Christine Byington, a conservative Republican in Greenville, S.C., takes issue with a Politico.com article about today's protest in D.C.: "Is 'overwhelmingly white crowd' really necessary?"

Javier David, a conservative in Brooklyn, N.Y., writes on Facebook: "Ridiculous. I can't believe MSM completely swept this under the rug."

Tyrone Davis, Jr., a conservative in Clearwater, Fla., writes on Twitter: "I don't think CNN is going to be around in the next few years. They just did 2 segments about how racism is a factor in the tea parties." He adds: "Of course there are a few nuts out there..but I don't think it represents the majority of people protesting legitimate concerns."

Giacomo Knox, a conservative in Los Angeles, Calif., writes on Twitter: "#912 Yawn. Quit with the redneck, racist, white, blah blah blah. Plenty of black people are not drinking the #obamafail kool-aid #2010." More: "#912dc is NOT proof of racism. Plenty of black folks there, but MSM isn't interested in the truth. Goodbye in 2010, 2012".

Ron Miller, a conservative Republican from Maryland who was at today's march, writes about media coverage: "Typical of the press to focus on the controversial; I guess 'if it bleeds, it leads' is still their mantra. The 'problem' with the 1st Amendment is that it requires us to allow free expression even if it's objectionable - 'the boisterous sea of liberty' as Thomas Jefferson called it. Unlike the protests of the past eight years, this isn't a centrally-controlled and funded movement. This is a very loose coalition and there is no attempt to control people or take away their right to free expression, whatever it may be. I guess I want to know what your expectations are in a truly libertarian society. I suppose everyone was equally disturbed about Bush being portrayed as Hitler in protests past."

Bill Randall, a conservative Republican, writes on Facebook in response to Veronica Foxx's post (see her post above) slamming media bias against the protest: "Fox covered the event extensively. As a matter of fact, they had solid coverage from 1 - 3 PM (EDT). The suppression of this information will backfire. The people have more sources besides the so-called 'mainstream media' (CBS, ABC, NBC & CNN). They have the blogosphere, conventional & internet radio, and a plethora of other venues. I can't blame you for being angry, Veronica. But know this: Our God is big enough to make sure that the people get the truth. A change is going to come. It starts with municipality races (locally) nationwide, and moves from there to the Congressional races. The people will take back the country, and today was a good exhibit of how fed up they are! This grassroots (not 'Astroturf') movement will not be silenced!"

Veronica Foxx, march attendee, responds: "All I seen from Fox was a quote of 'tens of thousands of people showed up,' and that's a lie on it[s] face. The only reason Fox covered it was because of Glen[n] Beck so I wouldn't give them that much credit. No we won't be silenced but how can a group of almost 2 Million people be ignored? It's the media that didn't report on Van Jones and ACORN. When they finally report the story the[y] bash Republicans!!! We target the politicians but the media is 50% of the problem and something HAS TO BE DONE!! I don't want to be the downer here and I'm sorry, I just feel disrespected and it's getting old real quick..."

Ali Butts, a libertarian, responds to Ms. Foxx: "Forget the media Veronica. I was one of the 1.5 to 2 million people there so either way you cut it, that is hard to ignore so no matter what the media tries to do to silen[c] this this will show at the poll so the media be damned".

Keisha Ferguson Thomas, a conservative, writes on Facebook: "over 2million....hmmmm I wonder how MSNBC will spin this Monday.....I know I know......'where were all these ppl the lat 8 years?"....yawn....come again....find something new....perhaps MSNBC should start reporting on ACORN!....and what has been uncovered about them over the week.....rebuttal?"

Tea Parties Held Elsewhere

Ali Akbar, a conservative Republican in Georgia, writes: "Headed to the Bulloch County Tea Party. I'm a grassroots local boy deep down". More: "I just got back from the Savannah Tea Party. Two #teaparty events, one day, one man. Great seeing friends from all over."

On his Facebook page, Mr. Akbar offers tips for Tea Party organizers: "I would encourage every Tea Party organizer to consider the political cost. 1) Stay fiscal 2) Encourage people of color to attend and speak 3) Focus on practical steps people can take. Let's win!"

Corey Poitier, a conservative Republican in North Miami, Fla.: "I attended the Tea Party Rally in Downtown Broward today. It was an awesome sight to behold. Tons of Americans demonstrating their First Amendment rights. I got a chance to address the crowd. I would like to Thank the Broward Tea Party and my students that showed up to see and help. God Bless!" In response to a Facebook friend's question asking what was the purpose of the protest, he adds: "People showing they are upset with government. There were Democrats, Republicans and Independents showing their anger about how government is governing. Not about a Black man in the White House. I saw no swastikas or Klansmen. Just Americans protesting their government."