WHEELING - Waving American flags and homemade signs demanding fiscal responsibility by the government, several hundred people gathered in front of WesBanco Arena Saturday for an Independence Day rally.
Organized by "We The People of the Ohio Valley," the event, dubbed the Wheeling Patriots Tea Party, featured local residents who spoke about wanting fiscal restraint by the federal government, in addition to the necessity for all citizens to participate in the democratic process.
Before the rally's start, Cameron, W.Va., resident Brandt Wendell said he hoped people would come to a consensus "about the acts taking place in Washington, D.C." Those acts, he said, are the passage of bills without oversight that call for too much spending.
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Photo by Shelley Hanson
Wearing a Statue of Liberty-like crown and holding a sign that says, “Foreclose the White House,” St. Clairsville resident Karen McWhorter participates Saturday in the Wheeling Patriots Tea Party.
"It's something people in this country can't continue to tolerate," Wendell said. "We're on a collision course with ruin."
Dressed as Benjamin Franklin, Wheeling resident John Price told the crowd that the nation is in "grave danger" and is "loaded with perpetual debt."
"You were ignored by Congress on April 15," Price said, referring to a Tax Day Tea Party held at Heritage Port in Wheeling. "It's been three months ... are you happy with the way they're spending your money?"
Speaker Jim Caveney of Wheeling told people they need to start voting with their own interests in mind.
"Your life is at stake. Your family is at stake. We don't need to go around the world and apologize for our success," Caveney said. "The politicians work for you, you don't work for them."
Speaker Jonathan Scovell said he is "not an American to bailout companies."
"It is not yours to give - leave our freedom alone," Scovell said.
Speaker Bob Barker said the nation's values are precious, and are worth "fighting for and dying for."
Speaking again as Ben Franklin, Price noted, "The well is running dry." And our forefathers' fight for freedom should not be forgotten.
"We did this because we rather die on our feet than live on our knees," Price said.
Organizers said a bus trip to the "Freedom Works Taxpayers' March" in Washington, D.C. is slated for Sept. 12. There is a cost. For more information, call Wilda Lee at 304-232-9499 or Connie Stahl at 304-233-5848.