Second ‘Tea Party’ planned for Fort Smith (Updated)

Greg White says his goal in being an organizer for the Tea Party rallies in Fort Smith is simple: Reduce apathy.

White, along with co-organizer Larry Willis, are planning the second Tea (Taxed Enough Already) Party in Fort Smith. It is planned for 10 a.m. to Noon, July 4, at Pendergraft Park in downtown Fort Smith.

Updated info: White said there is a “tentative” list of speakers, but said Barbara Hardcastle is organizing the speakers. Hardcastle refused to disclose the list of speakers.

The first ‘Tea Party’ (not the one in Boston) was held April 15, with the Fort Smith Police Department estimating more than 1,400 attendees at the three-hour rally, White said.

White said the July 4 holiday weekend presents a challenge to generate attendance because many people are traveling out of the area.

“I’d be happy if there was a thousand people to come through it in two hours,” said White, who added that a motorcycle group from Clarksville is planning to ride in for the event. “The real issue we are dealing with is apathy. If we accomplish nothing more than getting people who just talk about things, to get them active, then we’ll be happy with it.”

The July 4 parties are sponsored by Tupelo, Miss.-based American Family Association, which says it has 1,279 cities lined up for a July 4 rally.

“Tax Day Tea Party,” a Chicago-based volunteer organization, sponsored the April 15 gatherings. White said there are three national organizations sponsoring tea party events, but the local group voted to affiliate with the American Family Association.

Speakers at the April 15 event included Fort Smith Mayor Ray Baker, former Sebastian County Judge W.R. “Bud” Harper and J.R. Dallas, former commander of the 188th Fighter Wing based in Fort Smith.