Tea party movement heats up locally

LAFAYETTE, Ind. (WLFI) - Local tea party activists say their movement is getting more recognition nationwide.

The Lafayette group Citizens in Action will hold its 3rd tea party on the pedestrian bridge on Thursday. Director of Operations Donn Brown said the group plans to once again dump tea in the Wabash River, symbolic of the Boston Tea party hundreds of years ago.

"The sons of liberty, they really helped instigate the revolution," Brown said.

Now he and fellow activists are pushing for another revolution. They're hoping to make people in the area care about the political scene.

"I believe it's incredibly important to get people off the couch, and turn off American Idol and turn on the History Channel, or the news, or open a book, or go to the city council meeting," Brown said.

That's why Brown co-founded Citizens in Action last year. The group held its first tea party last year on tax day, and will continue the tradition this year.

This form of activism isn't everyone's cup of tea, though. Democratic Board of Elections co-chair Heather Maddox says she won't be attending.

"I'm a person that I like to have a peaceful discussion about issues, and I don't mind a good debate with people, believe me," she said. "And I'm not speaking for the local group, but nationally you've seen some things where crowds get a little out of hand."

But Maddox does agree it's a great way to exercise freedom of speech. Young Americans for Liberty leader Nathan Murphy said hopes that will spread to the Purdue student body, as his organization holds a rally of their own before the tea party.

"There's probably, I'd say half of the people [on campus] are excited about something," Murphy said. "Politically, I'd say it's probably closer to about 10, 15 percent."

Those students will hold their rally at 3:30 p.m. on Thursday on the pedestrian bridge. It will be followed by the actual tea party, from 5 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.

Organizers will also be holding a food drive, so attendees are asked to bring at least one non-perishable food item.