Port St. Lucie posts video response to Treasure Coast Tea Party’s harassment claim
July 9th, 2009 by TCPalm.comPORT ST. LUCIE — The city has released its own video on YouTube to address allegations from the Treasure Coast Tea Party that their civil rights were violated during the city’s Freedomfest on July 4.
Organization members were put into a special area near a sign stating Port St. Lucie did not back their views or opinions.
The 2 minute, 21-second video, titled “Port St. Lucie and Freedom of Speech,” features city Communications Director Ed Cunningham disputing the allegation.
Cunningham says the sign was “created to separate city government from individual political agendas” and that “free speech is alive and well in this city and was in fact practiced heavily at the Fourth of July Freedomfest celebration.”
The video is in response to one the Treasure Coast Tea Party posted on YouTube over the weekend saying the city “harassed” them by creating the special section and placing the disclaimer sign near them.
Members of the group have demanded an apology from the city and intend to address the issue at the City Council’s July 13 meeting.
Treasure Coast Tea Party member Karon Nunes said Mayor Pat Christensen and Council member Jack Kelly have sent e-mails apologizing to the group.
By Jim Turner, TCPalm.com
Tags: celebrities, communication, dispute, government, mayor, video, violations, violators
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July 9th, 2009 at 11:46 am
I visited this Tea booth, saw staff from a politican running for Senate now. I wondered where these folks were when Reagan and Bush created hugh deficents or where they were when Clinton balance the budget for the only time in decades.
They seemed like deceitful partisian politians and NOT a Grassroots group at all. Maybe there should be an area for political groups to have booths and to register voters in the next July 4th event. Many of us come from areas where legitamate ‘Town Meetings’ are an important way of celebrating our Freedoms. We need JOBS and not fake groups detering our nation from it’s true needs. Support Our President and America.
July 9th, 2009 at 1:26 pm
These people had plenty of opportunity to exercise their right to free speech at this event. The sign was way too small to block the view of their tent. I agree with Tim, where were they when the republicans were racking up the debt, leaving the Democrats to clean things up - AGAIN!!! They have the right to free speech, but they don’t have the right to be up in people’s faces with it. I think the city of PSL did found an excellent solution to meet the needs of the public and this republican lobbyist group - yeah, we all know what you are, you’re not fooling anyone. Keep up the good work PSL!
July 9th, 2009 at 1:33 pm
SupportObama: A republican lobbyist group? NOPE, we are solely a non-partisan group!
I’m a registered DEMOCRAT and a member of the Treasure Coast Tea Party. Also, a retired member of the Armed Forces.
Support Obama? Fat chance. He’s a socialist/communist with the programs he is promoting and funding.
Wake up and smell the coffee. Thankfully, I will no longer have to fight for your rights. I will, however, defend the Constitution for the United States of America to the death.
What the city did to the Tea Party was segregate a group of people from the mainstream. Then they had the nerve to put a sign stating why they did it.
The City violated the Tea Party civil rights. If you can’t understand that, move to another country.
July 9th, 2009 at 1:54 pm
I wonder what would have happened if cities had put Obama grassroots campaign organizers and ACORN people behind signs at functions before the election? My guess is that we would still be hearing about their civil rights. Amazing how some people think when the shoe in on the other foot. It’s ok to bash the Tea Party people for doing nothing but speaking their minds but it seems that they are the only group being bashed by the media and people like those above. Try not to throw out ALL of our constitutional rights just because you don’t like to LOOKS of the people or what they are saying. After all, this IS America still, right????
July 9th, 2009 at 2:27 pm
@PSLRES
Quite simply:
Prove it.
July 9th, 2009 at 4:38 pm
To FACEH:
Prove what? That I’m a DEMOCRAT associated with the Tea Party?
Believe it!
July 9th, 2009 at 11:56 pm
Tim says and SupportObama agrees “where these folks were when Reagan and Bush created hugh deficents” Well if either
one of you gentlemen had any economic acumen you would know
that neither Reagan or Bush deficits exceeded 15% of our GNP. Unlike your hero who had indebted us, more than all
the previous presidents added together, before he had been
in office 100 days. As of today he has committed to spend
more money than has ever been printed in the history of the
US Treasury. ( actually 5 times more ) Mr Obama’s spending
right now equals 40% of our GNP, and if he succeeds in
getting “Cap and Trade” and “Universal Healthcare” passed
he will have run his deficit total to a amount equal to
80% of our GNP. As for Mr Clinton’s balancing of the budget,
it’s documented fact that Mr Reagan’s tax cuts actually
resulted in a 50% increase in IRS collectable revenues and
he was able to finish the job by gutting Defence Spending.
Unfortunately that decision left him completely impotent
to respond to numerous terror attacts against our military
around the world that resulted in the death of more servicemen during his term in office than were killed in the first 2 years of the Iraq War.
By the way Tim, I’m at a loss trying to figure out you meant
by “hugh deficents”. Is this some new Democrat speak??