| Local TEA Party Held Weekly | |||
| By Vernon Robison Moapa Valley Progress Published August 5, 2009 A group of very determined Moapa Valley residents have braved blistering Saturday mid-day temperatures for the past month to make their views known. This group is the local chapter of the national TEA Party movement which organizes demonstrations across the country to protest what they perceive as runaway wasteful government spending and unnecessary government growth. The national movement got its start back on April 15 with demonstrations held all across the country. At that time, Overton resident Tammy Symons had been travelling and was in Salt |
 Tammy Symons (foreground), Jeanine Crayton and John Symons protested last week in front of the Overton Community Center on Saturday during the noontime hour. They have assembled a local chapter of the national Tea Party movement. |
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| Lake City. She joined in at the rally there and decided that she needed to be more involved in the cause.
“I have always felt like the great majority would prevail,” Symons said. “I also believe that the majority is opposed to what is going on now. But it is being shoved down our throats anyway. We are allowing that to happen because of a sense of apathy and people aren’t doing anything about it. I decided that I needed to do something about it.” Tammy Symons and her husband John began to organize a local chapter. The group held its first rally on July 4. According to Symons, about 20 people gathered in front of the Overton Community Center on Independence Day with signs in hand to protest. Since then the group has gathered in the same place every Saturday for an hour beginning at noon. Last Saturday, the group was considerably smaller. But they were receiving a very friendly reception from the passing cars on Moapa Valley Blvd. Tammy held a sign which read ‘Honk for America’ and most drivers passing by were making their support known. “People stop a lot and say how glad they are that we are doing this,” Symons said. “They want to be more involved but they often don’t know what to do and that frustrates them.” Symons explained that there is a wealth of information online to help people become better informed on the issues of the day. “The important thing is that we make ourselves heard,” Symons concluded. “The idea is to write to our leaders in Congress and make our positions clear. We are stronger if we are together. Maybe we won’t all agree on everything but we work together on the big things.” Symons is determined to continue assembling in front of the Overton Community Center every Saturday at noon. Those interested in gaining more information about the movement will find her there, she said. |
