Published: July 05, 2009 12:33 am      

Protesters: 'We're not being heard'

GREENVILLE — Signs, flags and banners flew beneath the hot summer sun Friday evening as over 100 people braved high temperatures to stage, what organizers called, a nonpartisan protest.

Drivers honked their horns, while others shouted words of encouragement as the demonstrators waved their messages along Wesley Street near the southeast corner of the Crossroads Mall property.

Organizer Debbie McKee said as many as 115 people were there and most were attending their first protest. "I estimate three-fourths of the folks there were new. Many saw it in the paper, many were driving by and stopped," she said.

Most of the protesters were in agreement that they were not happy with the policies of the Federal government.

Others were demonstrating against a lack of jobs, and some were unhappy with the the government bailout of businesses and of foreclosed homeowners.

Shanna Hudson, Zac Fawcett, Amanda Davis and Carissa Hudson said they were unhappy with the bailout's failure to deliver jobs. "I don't think the government is listening to us. I'm one of the seven percent unemployment rate," Hudson said, adding she had been laid off when a store in the mall closed in February. "Where are the jobs that were promised? I'm not feeling that stimulus at all."

Marge Sumrow, of Greenville, said she had a son in the Marines and that motivated her to demonstrate. "My son's doing his part, and I want to do mine. I don't want this country to fall apart. We're becoming a nanny state — you can't borrow yourself out of debt," she said.

Ted Gardner of Lone Oak agreed. "We have out of control spending. We can't keep doing that," he said.

Darla White, of Greenville, said she was concerned by entitlements and the state government's preference to make toll roads.

John and Darla Snow, of Quinlan, said they were protesting the growing tax burden. "We've been taxed enough already," said John.

18-year-old Sierra Frieberg said she was starting college in the fall but she was concerned with the growing debt and the gradual erosion of individual rights. "This is my first time at a protest. I've just started learning about my rights and I wanted to stand up for them," she said.

Individual rights were also on the mind of Mutt Way, who said he lives between Farmersville and Greenville. Way stood with a Revolutionary War "Don't Tread on Me" flag. "Government has taken over so much business," he said referencing the General Motors (GM) and bank bailouts.

"I've lived in interesting times. I plowed with a mule, seen man walk on the moon, served my country," the 76-year-old military veteran said. He then mentioned a Homeland Security memo sent to police agencies stating the "The Don't Tread on Me" statement was considered extremist. "I served my country six years, took the oath to defend the Constitution three times — and now they label me a subversive for carrying this flag," he said. "It just isn't right."