Images from the San Antonio Tea Party

Jonathan and I went to the Tax Day Tea Party in San Antonio. I parked at his office and we walked over to the plaza. Here are some images from the event.

It took place in the Alamo Plaza and an adjoining park to accommodate the crowds. I'm not sure how many people were there, but it was a LOT. Estimates range from between 7,000 to 14,000.


Texas flag waving proudly on a building near the Alamo:

We saw people of all ages, races, and walks of life. We overheard a elderly man assisting a tiny white haired lady probably in her late 80s. "So mom, what did you think of your first protest?" There were young babies, children, teens, college kids, middle-aged, hispanic, black, white, and asian. We saw flags, tea bags, signs, buttons, tricornered hats, baseball caps, visors, and of course cowboy hats.

Isaac's first protest:


I didn't think it would be an affair appropriate for Matthew and Melissa, but was pleased with how family friendly it actually was. Chants of USA! and very positive speeches were the order of the day. Still M&M would have been bored, so just as well I got a babysitter for them.

We were standing next to a family of 8 children with one on the way. They were extremely nice people and their children so well behaved. The lady asked if we brought water, and when we replied in the negative she insisted that we each have a water bottle from their stash. Then when Isaac got hungry, they offered me one of their chairs. Now I've nursed Isaac standing up many times, but it is much nicer to sit instead of supporting his (22 lbs?) standing. Very gracious people. We are very fortunate in finding great people wherever we go.

I can't find a link to a video of my favorite speech, so I'll just summarize. One of the speakers was born in Columbia, "a land where if you were born poor, you died poor." Her mother moved her family to America for the opportunities. You could just hear in her voice the love she had for America and for Texas. She was able to get an education and raise her children in prosperity in San Antonio. Like the rest of the speakers she feared the government encroachment on individual liberties (including economic) and takeover in the private sector. It's a poor summary I've rendered, so I hope I can find that clip....

It was a very polite, orderly crowd. Even the police were enjoying themselves.

Lastly a picture I took of the Alamo just before we left. The Alamo is surprising small, but inside it is reverent, like a church.