Pages
Stay In Touch
More
© 2011 Eric Odom - Movement Politics
Today is Friday, February 25th, 2011. This means that two years ago today Juliana Johnson and I put out this press release announcing the “Chicago Tea Party” that would take place on February 27th, 2009.
I write extensively about what this week entailed in my upcoming book about the movement (announcement coming soon) but wanted to touch briefly on it here.
Often times the February 27th “Nationwide Chicago Tea Party” is overlooked. The April 15th “Tax Day Tea Party,” which we planned some six weeks after, was much bigger and far more publicized. Many refer to the Tax Day Tea Party as the time it all began, but this isn’t true.
Actually, if we really wanted to get technical about it, there were multiple “tea party” type rallies in 2006-07, long before Rick Santelli’s rant or the Ron Paul movement began using the phrase.
As can be seen here, some four years ago the city of Chicago pushed through a 10 cent tax on bottles of water. In protest, Chicagoans took to the Chicago river for what they called a “Chicago Tea Party.”
But there can be no doubt the largest wave of tea party activism was born on February 27th, 2009.
Rick Santelli’s rant came on February 19th of 2009. Literally the next day we were hosting conference calls and plotting what would, a week later, be the “Nationwide Chicago Tea Party.”
When we first began planning, we had five cities with tea parties being organized. It quickly became 20, then finally became 40. So in just a week, with no money or experience in this realm, rallies were planned in 40 cities that resulted in more than 30,000 people hitting the streets on the 27th.
The following video was shot (Dan Proft speaking) in front of the Tribune Tower in downtown Chicago that day.
This was long before any “national tea party organizations” or D.C. groups took “leadership” roles in the movement. This was a very mysterious time and none of us had any idea what it all would lead to.
Of course, as we all know, six weeks later more than 800,000 Americans rallied in more than 850 towns across the nation. Later in 2009 these same Americans would crash townhalls across the country, forcing Democrats to lessen the blow of Obamacare and building the foundation that would eventually lead to a Historic shift in power during the 2010 elections.
Backyard Conservative has a great line-up of pictures from the original Chicago tea party of 2009.
This one shows yours truly leading the march through downtown Chicago (from Daley Plaza to the Tribune Building).
There were many, MANY patriots involved in helping make this day possible. Too many to list here, but I do want to make sure a few name are mentioned as the movement owes them a special thanks for the work that happened that week.
Nationally (helped with the organizing of the 40 cities)
-Teri Christoph
-Stacy Mott
-Michael Patrick Leahy
-Michael Johns
-Amy Kremer
Locally (Chicago)
-Juliana Johnson (tons of media help!)
-Evert Evertson (Megaphone and general get-out-the-word help)
Special Thanks
-Richard and Laura Behney (I explain this in my upcoming book, but they both have a special place in my memories from that day)
Happy Birthday Tea Party Movement! You’re the only reason our nation is still surviving with a fighting chance!
If you enjoyed this article, please consider sharing it!
[...] This post was mentioned on Twitter by Eric Odom, Eric Odom, Eric Odom, David West, illustr8r and others. illustr8r said: RT @ericjodom: Happy Birthday to the #teaparty Movement! http://t.co/wdld1kK Please RT! [...]
These are exciting times! We just have to keep the energy GOING! From the first modern Tea Parties on the 234th anniversary of the Boston Tea Party (Dec. 16th 2007 http://t.co/OR8i3cb), to Rick Santelli’s “Shout Heard ‘Round the World” on CNBC (Feb. 19 2009 http://t.co/BNI1c9K), to millions rallying at the Capitol and around the country, the Tea Party Movement has just kept growing and growing.
Let’s stay the course, Patriots!
Incredible energy surge from common people. Keep working and building and keeping on message. Imagine, the TEA Party movement IS the great hope for America! Our time has come.
Eric I am sending this to you- Capitol police aren’t interested, but it’s pretty scary to me. Has two death threats to Gov Walker and Gov of Ohio.
AstroSHayden
1. Hurray for the Wisconsin Police fighting against Gov Walker. Ohio Police must do the same.Support your Country Ohio Police. less than a minute ago via web
2. todayspolitics MADISON: Gov to cops: clear out the capitol, Cops to Gov: We’re sleeping in the capitol tonight. #politics http://bit.ly/hX1Wtl 4 minutes ago via TweetAmigo Retweeted by AstroSHayden and 1 other
3. KOCH BROTHERS/INDUSTRIES/Georgia Pacific are paying Republicans&Teaparty Politicians MILLIONS TO COMMIT TREASON. TAKE A STAND NOW 3 minutes ago via web
4. BOYCOTT KOCH BROTHERS/INDUSTRIES Georgia Pacific products like dixie cups,brawny paper towels,angelsoft TP,Computer Paper NOW IS THE TIME 4 minutes ago via web
5. Gov JOHN KASICH (OH)&Gov Scott Walker(Wi)must be eliminated by March 22nd or OUR AMERICA WILL BE DESTROYED. 5 minutes ago via web
6. THIS IS OFFICIALLY THE NEW AMERICAN REVOLUTION AGAINST TYRANNY&OPPRESSION.IMPRISON OPPRESSIVE&TYRANNICAL GOP,TP&KOCH BROTHERS FOR TREASON 8 minutes ago via web
7. Hit big business where it counts…in their wallets. NOW or we will lose our rights as everyday AMERICANS. 10 minutes ago via web
8. TIME TO PETITION&THREATEN Cable Companies to remove the bribed Right wing nutjobs like Beck,Limbaugh,Fox News,Fox channel,etc from existing 10 minutes ago via web
9. TIME to arrest Governors of Wisconsin&Ohio for TREASON against the American People.We the People of USA will not take this anymore! 12 minutes ago via web
10. AMERICANS Take a Stand against the tyranny and oppression of the Republicans,TeaParty,Mega Big Businesses&KOCH Brothers.IF NOT NOW,WHEN? 13 minutes ago via web
11. TIME to ELIMINATE Gov Walker&Gov of Ohio,BY ANY MEANS NECESSARY.State&Local Police&Unions need a brave hero to eliminate them. 14 minutes ago via web
12. AMERICANS ARE MAD AS HELL AT REPUBLICANS,TEAPARTY POLITICIANS&KOCH BROTHERS&BIG BUSINESS,We the people will not take it anymore! 15 minutes ago via web
Did you see this?? Senator Grothman being assaulted today in Madison.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9Cx77K8e3WE
I was assaulted this weekend in Atlanta:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Rj4ZBBpOi_k
Longer version:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Kmk_HZYhlJs
Interview:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GKUKJllTweE
That’s what we’re up against, folks.