San Jose "Tea Party" Brings out the Worst of the Right Wing

by Wilson Roberts

Wed, Apr 15, 2009 6:48PM

The FOX-News heavily promoted anti- tax "tea parties" meant party-time for some of the worst of the right wing in San Jose, California today. Their signs signaled everything from racism, to homophobia, to misogyny. From noon about 100 gathered in front of the IRS building in downtown San Jose. They were countered by a smaller contingent of anti-war/anti-racism seasoned activists. But the tea party participants weren't listening.

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San Jose, California in front of the IRS building around 1 PM...the displaced anger and undisguised racism and, well, ignorance were palpable.

Right wingers whined "this is our demonstration" and "we knew some of you people would show up to ruin it for us, why don't you go to another corner" when seasoned anti-war activists tried to engage them in discussion. One left-wing activist commented, "I was waiting for the hoods to be handed out...it was that bad."

A favorite argument levied at anti-war activists, who tried to point out that taxes are high because of endless military spending, went like this: "We work for a living---not like you who can just be called up on a moment's notice."

Such was the Tax Day Tea Party in San Jose.

§Sign up here for Racism

by Wilson Roberts

Wed, Apr 15, 2009 6:48PM

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Right Winger in this photo seems to be saying: "Just say no to education for immigrants" as he signs up people to oppose the Dream Act.

The Dream Act is a piece of proposed federal legislation that was introduced in the US senate and the US house of representatives in March 26, 2009. This bill would provide certain immigrant students who graduate from US High Schools, are of good moral character, arrived in the US as children, and have been in the country continuously for at least five years prior to the bill's enactment, the opportunity to earn conditional permanent residency. It is largely seen by anti-immigrant forces as unfair spending of US taxpayer money to help undocumented immigrants reside in the US. HOWEVER, there is reason to consider the current version this proposed legislation carefully from an anti-war viewpoint as well. Military service is written into the Act as a path to citizenship in an apparent attempt to press latinos/latinas into jobs that would require them to kill.

See anti-war activist David Ledesma on why we should NOT support the Dream Act in its current form at: http://www.indybay.org/newsitems/2009/04/16/18589836.php

§Although it was supposed to be a non-partisan, non religious event...

by Wilson Roberts

Wed, Apr 15, 2009 6:48PM