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Regular Folks United at the 9/12 March on DC

September 12, 2009 - Washington, DC - Regular Folks United founder Lori Roman and executive director Ron Miller were among the multitude of participants in the 9/12 Tea Party rally in Washington, DC on September 12th. Here is Ron's report:

I think I'm safe in declaring the rally the largest single gathering of conservatives and libertarians ever in the nation's capital, even though estimates of crowd size varied wildly. The U.S. Park Police no longer provide crowd estimates because they were threatened with lawsuits after their estimates of the Million Man March in 1995 did not find favor with the march organizers. As a result, you had the U.S. mainstream media using the term "tens of thousands" to describe the crowd, while a British paper put the number at 2 million.

The best resource we've found describing the crowd size is a research paper done by one of the participants. The author, Zac Moilanen, a student at Indiana University, strives for objectivity and fully discloses his methodology and evidence. We invite you to read it and reach your own conclusions.

A common criticism of the rally was the supposed preponderance of racist or Nazi imagery and slogans in the crowd. To be sure, there were some objectionable signs, slogans and images, which isn't entirely surprising for a rally of this size, comprised of diverse groups and individuals. 

Even so, the overwhelming majority of signs were not objectionable in any way, nor were most of those in attendance sporting Nazi or racist symbols. This is another example of selective outrage by the media and the Tea Party movement's critics, all of whom were strangely silent when left-wing protesters routinely made death threats against President Bush during his term in office, or waved signs and slogans featuring him as Hitler or Satan.

The Tea Party movement is truly grass-roots and takes no orders from any group in particular, not even Fox News (another favorite canard from critics). There are literally hundreds of groups, large and small, all joined in a loose confederation and offering support to a movement they did not create, and which they do not control.

There is no centralized Tea Party "czar" or guiding organization, nor is funding or transportation provided by a right-wing George Soros, if such a person exists. People from across the country took time off from work and paid out of their own pockets or pooled their money with their neighbors, friends, or associates, as they did for previous rallies on April 15th and July 4th, so they could come to Washington and reassert their rightful claim to their government as a servant of all the people, not just some of them.

Many brought their children and grandchildren with them to show them we are concerned for their future because they are the ones who will bear the burdens of what our government does today.

 A common refrain from everyone with whom we spoke was "I've never done anything like this before, but I couldn't be silent any longer." The people in attendance are our neighbors, our fellow churchgoers, the folks we see at the grocery store or at parents' night at the local high school. The crowd couldn't have been more "middle American."

Not only were they peaceful, they showed considerable respect and courtesy to local law enforcement on hand to monitor the event. They even cleaned up after themselves, leaving the city grounds the way they found them, perhaps even better.

As for the charge of racism, by my informal count at least five of the speakers, including a couple of pastors, were black. Lori and I were together carrying a Regular Folks United banner and could well have been mistaken as a couple by the people in attendance. We encountered no issues with anyone; in fact, they were exceedingly kind, and several of them thanked me for being there and having the courage to stand with them.

This was the experience of a lifetime for me. I am thrilled to have been a part of it, and I was honored to share the experience with Lori, my friend, partner, and fellow patriot.

I have hope that everyday Americans - Regular Folks - are no longer content to be "the silent majority" but are speaking out, and will continue to do so, against excessive government spending and expanding government encroachment into our lives.

Regular Folks United founder Lori Roman at the 9/12 Tea Party Rally displaying the Regular Folks United button

DC 9/12 Tea Party Rally patriots listen to speakers in front of the U.S. Capitol

American and Gadsen flags wave at the 9/12 Tea Party Rally