— Two local groups will be in Huntsville Monday to protest the appearance of House Minority Leader John Boehner, R-Ohio, at a fundraiser for U.S. Rep. Parker Griffith, R-Alabama.
Several area organizations announced plans to protest the event, which is at 5 p.m. Monday at the U.S. Space & Rocket Center, including members of Athens-Limestone Tea Party Patriots, the Limestone County Republican Executive Committee, the Huntsville Tea Party, Left In Alabama, Alabama A&M University Democrats Student Club, The Dale Jackson Show, North Alabama Healthcare for All, Madison County Republican Executive Committee.
The AFL-CIO, American Federation of Labor and Congress of Industrial Organizations, will protest with a press conference at the Marriott Hotel near the Space & Rocket Center before the fundraiser.
“We are sending a message to the national Republican establishment: stay out of our primary,” said Christie Carden, founder of the Huntsville Tea Party. “We’re pushing back against the political machine.”
Limestone Republican leaders are concerned that Boehner is helping raise funds for only one Republican candidate.
“Recruitment of qualified Republican candidates is very difficult and John Boehner has not helped that process,” said Rex Davis, who, along with Don Hudleston, encouraged members of the Limestone County Republican Executive Committee to attend the protest. “Why would anyone want to run for office as a Republican and be trampled by the National Republican Party against the will of the local Republican leadership?”
Another protestor said Boehner should not be involved in Alabama politics.
“Our message to Rep. John Boehner is stay out of the Fifth District’s business. The
Tea Party movement began and is continuing today because the people are being ignored. Government officials have forgotten who they work for and ‘We the People’ are tired of it and determined to take our country back,” said Deborah King, founder of the Athens-Limestone Tea Party Patriots.
