LONGVIEW, TX (KLTV) -
An East Texas Tea Party chapter held a
rally on Saturday to let people know they think the government is overstepping it's authority.
Elected officials were in
abundance on the Longview courthouse lawn, as the Longview Tea Party chapter
held what they call the 'Don't Tread on Me Rally'.
"We're celebrating the first amendment.
we're celebrating the right to assemble , we're celebrating the right to
protest your government to give your grievances to the government," says Tea Party supporter Keith Rothra.
In the wake of targeting by the
IRS , the Tea Party says their message remains steady.
"Obama said a few days ago, we should
give up some of our liberty. My freedom, your freedom, comes from god not
man," says Longview resident Donald Webb.
From wiretapping to national health care,
people at the event say they have a beef with the current government.
"You take an oath to the constitution
and if you don't keep that oath you just along to get along then it means
nothing," says state representative David Simpson.
"Obamacare is a lie. It's not about
health insurance , it's not about health care , it's about government
controlling you," Webb says.
"Where the government fears people
fears the people there is liberty, where the people fear the government there
is tyranny," says state representative Brian Hughes.
And area politicians say they are
listening.
"It's about holding our government
accountable , we can love and support our country, but we should question our
government," Hughes says.
But the group's main
message is, they're not going away."The tea party has only begun,"
Rothra says.
Over 300 people were at the
Longview rally, which was just one of dozens of tea party rallies held today
all over Texas.
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