(Analyst's note: Troubling. It is almost as if the gov't wants something to happen. I'm convinced that more people should be required to join "Oath Keepers.")
 Patriotic tea partiers in Quincy, Ill. (photo: Jim Hoft of BigGovernment.com) |
When hundreds of tea-party protesters – including many elderly women – gathered outside a civic center where President Obama was giving a public speech Wednesday, they were surprised to be greeted by police dispatched in full riot gear.
Obama spoke in Quincy, Ill., at the Oakley Lindsay Civic Center. The event was open to the public, and about 2,000 tickets were distributed on a first-come, first-serve basis.
About 200 protesters peacefully rallied outside the civic center, carrying signs that read "Give Us Liberty Not Debt" and yellow "Don't Tread On Me" flags, the Quincy Herald-Whig reported. Protesters waved U.S. flags and shouted "Remember in November" and "You work for us."
'Look at these extremist maniacs!'
After Obama's motorcade arrived, a Secret Service agent instructed protesters to move across the street. The crowd began singing "God Bless, America" and the National Anthem. Quincy Deputy Police Chief Ron Dreyer ordered police in full riot gear to march up the street and stand between the tea partiers and the civic center.
Snipers were also spotted on the rooftop of the building.
 Rooftop snipers (photo: Gateway Pundit) |
The tea partiers complied when they were told to move across the street, behind a sidewalk and into a parking lot. The riot police did not come into contact with the crowd, and the tea partiers sang patriotic songs while obeying the orders.
"Thanks for protecting our president," one tea partier can be heard saying on a video of the event. "He's the anointed One, the Messiah."
Another man said, "Illegals are rioting, and we're as peaceful as you can believe."
Inside, Obama told the crowd, "[W]hen I travel now, it kind of causes a ruckus."
Michelle Malkin's blog responded to the incident with the headline "Riot police called in to protect Obama from out-of-control tea party."
"Thank goodness the riot police showed up quickly before something serious happened," Doug Powers wrote. "Look at these extremist maniacs!"
Powers referenced photos of several elderly women at the protest who smiled and wore U.S. flags.
 Tea partiers in Quincy, Ill. (photo: Jim Hoft of BigGovernment.com) |
"No word yet on how many crimes were carried out in town while the police were being ordered to monitor this seething cauldron of tea-party rage," he wrote, "but it was a small price to pay to keep the area secure."
 (Photo: A Traditional Life blog) |
Organizer Steve McQueen told the Herald-Whig, "We've always been respectful and acted with dignity. We are out to make our case and make it peacefully."
 Tea partiers rally on opposite side of street (photo: Flickr / edeldoug) |
Tea-party blog P/Oed Patriot posted the following video of the incident:
The following videos of the event were also posted on YouTube:
The photos and videos sparked a wave of blogger reactions, including the following comments:
- I hope the riot police have full auto assault weapons with armor-piercing rounds. I hear false teeth can deflect normal NATO rounds.
- Those poor police have to be embarrassed.
- These guys and gals look like my mom or the people in my church. Wake up America!
- Why can't these racist, violent tea parties be civil like the peaceful pro-illegal immigration rallies we saw in Phoenix!?
- The cops really have to worry since protesters are shown on tape throwing bottles at them. Oh wait …
- SWAT was there because it looked like the ladies were going to break out in a bingo game. Those daubers have ink, ya know.
- Oh my G-d. How beyond ridiculous. This country's "leaders" have gone stark raving insane.
- Yeah, they look like real hoodlums. Next they'll be going after the elementary school kids singing those crazy patriotic songs!
- When will the AARP condemn this threatening behavior by team Obama?
Army prepping for tea-party 'terrorists'?
Meanwhile, the Patriot Post's Mark Alexander reports he was contacted by enlisted soldiers and officers of the military who are concerned about Army exercises at Fort Knox. According to the report, military intel advisories identify potential terrorist adversaries as "Local Militia Groups / Anti-Government Protesters / TEA Party."
A purported exercise intel update issued April 23 read: "The Demonstration did not happen due to Federal and local law enforcement influence. Possible raid on the local White Supremacists Organization may have been made in the last 48 hours."
The document for the exercise continues, "TEA Party organizers have stated that they will protest at the Gold Vault at a future date. Mint Police are on a heightened alert status to deal with a large crowd on the grounds. Anti-Government - Health Care Protesters have stated that they would join the TEA Party as a sign of solidarity."
The threat risk is dubbed "substantial," with "threats against the US Bullion Depository and Fort Knox."
A similar intel update for another exercise was purportedly issued April 26.
It stated, "Many members were extremely agitated at what they referred to as Government intervention and over taxation in Their lives. Alcohol use 'fanned the flames.' Many Military grade firearms were openly carried. An ad hoc 'shoot the Govt. Agent' event was held with prizes (alcohol) given for thge best shot placement. Components for bomb making are reported to have been on the site. Some members have criminal records relating to explosive and weapons violations."
It continues, "Local detention centers are being made ready for mass arrests."
According to the update, the 16th Cavalry Regiment Quick Reaction Force I and the 194th Armored Brigade Quick Reaction Force II were placed on two-hour recall.
"Such exercises are critical to the readiness of our forces, and the standard for the real time intel reports in these drills requires thinly veiled references to assets of existing or collateral threat vectors such as communist regimes such as China and real terrorist networks such as al-Qaida, etc," Alexander wrote. "Perhaps the writers of such exercises today should focus on response plans for, say, an Islamic terrorist who attacks a post (See Ft. Hood / Major Nidal Malik Hasan.)."
He added, "The Fort Knox exercise is not only amateurish in its construct, but also sets an ominous political precedent."
Alexander said he was recently contacted by the senior command staff at Fort Knox who said an officer in the security loop altered the scenario "in order to make it more realistic." He was told the alterations were not approved at the command level and that the person who circulated the scenario through official channels will "receive appropriate counsel."
Previous stories:
Tea partiers report Fox story changed
Patriots 'recapture spirit of America'
Nation's capital rocked by tea'd-off taxpayers
Tea-party crashers: 'I'm gay for Palin'
Tea-party mania: Taxpayers to storm White House
Uh-oh. Look what's headed for Obama's residence
More than just tea partiers, a new generation strategizes
Tea partiers vs. Reid supporters: 10,000 to 100
What happens in Vegas: Massive tea party
Farah back at 2nd Tea Party Nation convention
Tea Party Nation: It's Vegas in July!
'Government wants to be your one and only god'
Tea partier shares 'single greatest threat to America'
New 'bill of particulars' cites Obama failings
Palin: 'America is ready for another revolution'
Watch Farah live at 1st national tea party convention
See Dem panic! Anti-tea party ads tied to Obama eligibility
Does Scott Brown's win have legs for November?
Guess who joins Beck on mission to restore America
Sold out! Palin-Farah ticket rocks tea party convention
Guess who joins Sarah Palin ticket ...
Candidates face ultimatum: Kill Obamacare, or else ...
Tea-party explosion! Next up: House where Obama lives
Freedom-loving patriots pay 'House call' to Capitol
Capitol to be filled with livid Americans
Pink slips 2.5 times higher than Washington Monument
Protesters target media: 'Can you hear us now?'
It's T-Day for Obama 'Minion Media'
CBS, NBC, ABC to be slammed by more than 100 protests
Obama's 'Minion Media' to face fed-up Americans
See what patriots think about Obama's 'Minion Media'
Just how many marched on D.C.?
A million or more rock Washington
Patriots to storm D.C. for massive tea party
Obamacare activists to crash D.C.'s massive tea party?
9/12 mania: Massive tea party storms D.C.
Tea parties from sea to shining sea
Tea partiers counterattack 'bad guys on a bad mission'
He's back! Guess who's coming to tea parties ...
Obama supporters shut down Atlanta tea party
Wee the people: Port-a-potty named for Pelosi
Independence Day tea party tally explodes
Independence Day tea parties in 350 cities
Motivated tea partiers prep for next round
Coast-to-coast tea parties put lawmakers on notice
Obama slammed: 'Chains we can believe in'
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Tax Day party count nearing 2,000 U.S. cities
Tax Day tea parties: Over 1,000 planned
Fed-up Americans mobilize: More than 170 tea parties
Americans throw more than 40 tea parties
Senator echoes Tea Party rally cry
Obama hits back at 'tea party' rant
