Send a message to the politicians in Washington, D.C., to stop the overspending. Tell them to cease over taxing and desist from loading historical heaps of debt onto the shoulders of our children and grandchildren. Stand up to the fiscal and moral devaluation of our nation's future.
Instead of dumping tea like the patriots of the Boston Tea Party, we will make our point by sending the tops of tea bags to the people's servants in Washington along with a declaration of grievances.
Stand up for what made America great. Come to the Morgantown Tea Party and party like its 1773.
Cindy Frich addressing tea party | 
Cindy Frich interview with TV 12 News |
Issue Date: Thursday April 16,2009
Tea bags hung from the umbrellas and eyeglasses of protestors at the Morgantown Tea Party that brought out more than 300 people Wednesday, April 15.
The group, which met downtown in courthouse square, were part of a national trend protesting the stimulus package and bailouts.
"We are loosely fitted, grassroot folks," said Cindy Frich, an organizer of the protest.
This was the first Morgantown Tea Party, and Frich said she believes this was only the first of the town's tea parties.
The organizers put the tea party together in just a few weeks, she said. There were tea parties in other towns in February and March, but Frich said that Wednesday, tax day, more than 800 cities nationwide protested.
A petition and declaration of grievances were available for protestors to sign.
"We have a petition to sign to send to our politicians in Washington, D.C., to tell them that we are tired of the stimulus packages and the bailouts and that we vow to vote and to not vote for the lesser of the two evils," Frich said.
The petition filled quickly, leaving people to sign the backs of already signed papers. The protestors gathered, hoping to draw a line on outrageous spending.
"Listen to us, and stop. We are going to hold you accountable," Frich said to politicians. There was a diverse group of people who listened to the speakers.
"You are looking at two people who are in their 70s ... We have worked, we are still working, trying to provide for our retirement and our family," said Don Poluszek, a former teacher and West Virginia University football coach, who was there with his wife.
He was upset over the ups and downs of the stock market, making him lose six figures worth of investments.
"But when the government makes decisions, it makes the stock market do what it's doing," he said.
The dreary weather did not damper the spirits of protestors.
"We are like the little tea party that could," Frich said. "We have had so many road blocks, and we've kept moving."
Social networking sites were used to advertise for the Morgantown Tea Party as well as hand-made signs posted around town, letters to the editor in newspapers and radio advertisements.
"We must return to the founding principles of our country," said Christopher Coyne, a professor at WVU's College of Business and Economics. "I ask my students how many have read the Constitution. Out of 100, one or two raise their hands."
He believes going back to the basics will bring about prosperity.
"That is ultimately what makes us the great nation that we are," Coyne said.
Frich said it was a chance for protestors to raise their voices "against arrogance and ruinous policies" in Washington.
"We are freedom-loving Americans who cherish individual liberty. Our Constitution and all this nation has stood for for over 233 years. We love our country, and we are here to take it back," Frich said.
marli.riegs(2taail. wvu.edu
Copyright © 2006 The Daily Athenaeum, West Virginia University. All rights reserved.
Children | 
WVU students |
Teaparty viewed from the Court House | 
Petition line |
Prof. Economics addresses teaparty | 
Attendee with sign |
But meeting the April 15 deadline to file federal income taxes was not the reason for people converging on the courthouse square.
"We want this country back and we should focus on what our founding fathers did when they founded it," Reuel Zinn said.
Zinn, one of the organizers of Morgantown's Tax Day TEA (Taxed Enough Already) Party on Wednesday, was one of several speakers who fired up the crowd that filled Monongalia County's Courthouse Square during the rainy afternoon rally.
Attendees toted umbrellas and signs demanding an end to wasteful government spending while others took shots at President Barack Obama.
More than 700 similar events were held throughout the country yesterday, the day federal income taxes were due, organizers said.
Morgantown's group collected signatures to send to U.S. Sen. Robert Byrd, D-W.Va. along with a petition stating they oppose wasteful spending.
Zinn said the event wasn't about party affiliation, despite claims that the TEA parties were Republican-lead events.
"This is about saying, 'enough is enough,' " Zinn said. "We're not politicians. We're just regular people who are sick of it."
Pam Krushansky, chairperson for the Monongalia County Republican Executive Committee and one of the event's organizers, agreed, calling the event nonpartisan.
"People are upset about government spending and people are really worried about their Constitutional rights being trampled on," Krushansky said.
Richard Kerr, a U.S. Army veteran, issued a call to veterans.
"We have a federal government that's out of control," Kerr said.
Kerr said veterans took an oath to uphold and defend the Constitution against all enemies — foreign and domestic — when they enlisted or were called to duty and should continue to do that today.
Skip Ellis, a Preston County resident who attended the event, said capitalism needs to be given the chance to work.
"I believe in not spending as much of our future generation's money," Ellis said.
Fred Puderbaugh, of Davis, dressed up for the event, showing up in an outfit similar to what colonials would've worn, and entertained the crowd with harmonica versions of patriotic tunes.
"This is disastrous stupidity," Puderbaugh said of government spending. "Both parties. There's self-interest. It's insanity."
Cindy Frich with Alan Keyes | 
Cindy Frich at Tea Party in Pittsburgh |
| .jpg)
Cindy Frich at Pittsburgh Tea Party |
Will the Tea Parties Matter? - Newt Gingrich -HUMAN EVENTS 04-22-09
How to Organize Your Own "Tea Party" Protest
Return to Home Page
Maintained by John C Frich, Jr MD FACR. Last update April 24, 2009