By Mike Bush
Editor
575magazine.com
ROSWELL — More than 80 people showed up for an income tax day protest rally at Pioneer Plaza Thursday, rally organizer Bob Mitzel of the Chaves County Tea Party Patriots said.
Mitzel’s wife, Terri, said she counted 77 people and knew of 4 or 5 she didn’t count. Mitzel estimated the total as well over 80, adding people were in and out all day.
A supportive crowd listens to Henry Sena, independent candidate for the 2nd Congressional District, one of the speakers at the rally.
(Mike Bush photo)
“We were real satisfied with the turnout,” Bob Mitzel said, adding there were even two people from Holland there
He also said the protesters got a lot of support from people driving by on Main Street. Many people honked their horns in support and some waved and gave protesters a thumbs-up, he said. Only two people gave them a thumbs-down.
“I appreciate all the support people showed us,” Mitzel said.
Bob Mitzel of Chaves County Tea Party Patriots, organizer of Thursday’s protest rally at Pioneer Plaza, introduces one of the rally speakers.
(Mike Bush photo)
Speakers at the rally included Robert Corn, candidate for the Republican nomination for the Public Regulation Commission; state Sen. Rod Adair; Cliff Pirtle, Republican, and Henry Sena, independent, candidates for the 2nd Congressional District seat now held by Democratic Rep. Harry Teague; Dara Dana, representing the Chaves County Republican Women; Will Cavin, Republican candidate for Chaves County magistrate; and Lisa Parrot, campaign representative for Jim Schoonover, Republican candidate for state treasurer.
Mitzel said several members of the public also addressed the crowd.
A banner identified the Chaves County Tea Party Patriots and included the organization’s Web address, www.chavescountyteaparty.com.
Below the banner was one identifying another organization in which Mitzel is active, the Roswell 2nd Amendment Task Force (Roswell II ATF). The banner proclaimed: “An unarmed man is a subject, an armed man is a citizen.”
Mark Witt, his wife Jackie and their grandson Jaxon express their support of the Chaves County Tea Party Patriots protest rally at Pioneer Park in Roswell Thursday.
(Mike Bush photo)
In an e-mail addressed to supporters sent after the rally, Mitzel expressed his appreciation for those who attended “and helped to make the rally the success that it was.”
The e-mail noted Adair and several candidates and “patriots” addressed the crowd.
“I was sorry to see that no members of our local political scene could attend our rally,” it said. “The lone exception was Councilman Rob McWilliams, who was working, but was represented at the rally by his wife, Nicole.
“Again, we wish to thank all those who attended. It was an honor to stand shoulder to shoulder with patriots concerned with the fate of our country.”
Chaves County Tea Party Patriots is “a grassroots organization trying basically to get Washington straightened out and get our country back the way it should be,” according to Mitzel.
The rally was one of many around the country held Thursday by Tea Party groups protesting, in Mitzel’s words, “high taxes, overbearing government, things being crammed down our throats that we don’t want.”
“We’re not out there to overthrow the government or cause hate and disruption,” he said. “We’re just out there to get our country back.”
He said the Chaves County Tea Party Patriots would sponsor other rallies throughout the year and that he would try to get another one organized just before the June 1 New Mexico primary election.