Published: July 02, 2009 08:39 pm      

Protest planned on the Fourth at courthouse

Staff Report

MT. VERNON — A “Redeclare Your Independence” rally will be held at the Jefferson County Courthouse at 11 a.m. on July 4.

The rally, which is being held by the Jefferson County Young Republicans, is one of many rallies and TEA parties being held throughout the nation,

“The rally is a part of the national movement to protest the spending of trillions of dollars which will leave our great-grandchildren a debt they must pay,” information from the Young Republicans states. “However, as the government continues to overreach and infringe on more rights, the rally has grown into a general outcry in support of individual liberty.”

The rally has also been officially registered as a national Taxed Enough Already — or TEA Day event. According to information from teapartyday.com, the grassroots movement is to protest President Barack Obama and liberals in congress and the financial and social policies.

In Mt. Vernon, the rally will be held on the east side of the Jefferson County Courthouse at 11 a.m., with Illinois Sen. John O. Jones (R-Mt. Vernon) as the guest speaker. Other events scheduled throughout the region include rallies in Benton, Carbondale, Centralia, Salem, Effingham, Flora and Harrisburg, according to information on the TEA party registration site.