Via Overpasses For America: Political activists working to wake people up | VIDEO Earl Shay admits she was not happy with the outcome of the 2012 presidential election. So unhappy, in fact, she decided to share her displeasure on Facebook. A like-minded individual saw her posts and invited her to join what she describes as the largest protest group in America. Now, nearly two years later, Shay is the Georgia head of Overpasses for America — a non-partisan group dedicated to defending the Constitution. “If we the people don’t stand up for our Constitutional rights, we’re not going to have them,” Shay said. Shay and others across the country are taking their message to the streets by holding rallies on overpasses. In Gwinnett, the Hamilton Mill Road overpass at exit 120 on Interstate 85 has proved to be a good location. “We have a lot of people that come by,” Shay said. Unlike other areas where the group has congregated, the people in the Hamilton Mill area, Shay said, seem generally more receptive to the group’s pro-Constitution, anti-Obama message as evidenced by the number of passersby who wave or sound their horns in response to the “Honk to Impeach Obama” signs. While Shay insists the group is primarily focused on Constitutional issues — her business card even carries the message “Defend your Constitution before it’s too weak to defend you” — it was the desire to see Obama impeached led to the group’s founding. In fact, the group originally identified themselves as “Overpasses for Obama’s Impeachment.” The name change, Shay said, was to emphasize the organization’s other goals. “It’s more than Obama,” she said. “It’s the administration. It’s our Constitutional rights.” Still, the anti-Obama message on the “About Us” section of OverpassesforAmerica is clear. “Our immediate goal is to see the corrupt Barack Hussein Obama held accountable for his many unconstitutional actions,” the website states. “We demand nothing less than he be given the maximum sentence allowable by law for each of his crimes committed while in the office of President, that he be given no pardon, nor granted immunity under any circumstance.” The organization’s other listed goals include removing members of Congress who disregard the Constitution, a “massive shrinking” of spending by the federal government and complete transparency in all government departments. “We demand lower taxes, fewer regulations, and sensible immigration policies that place the American people first,” the website states. Ginger James of Lawrenceville had several of those issues on her mind during the group’s Oct. 12 rally on the Hamilton Mill Road overpass. “Obama has killed our economy, brought racial divide,” she said. “Now he’s opened our borders which has threatened our national security. Now he’s brought Ebola into the country. It’s getting scary and I’m very concerned.” James hopes those who see the rallies on the overpasses will take the time to visit the organization’s website, educate themselves about the issues facing the nation and join their cause. “I love my country and I’m afraid we are losing it,” she said. Winder resident Jason Light is also worried about the direction the country is heading. The message he is trying to convey, he explained, is that “this train is out of control and heading over a cliff” and the American people are the passengers. “It does not matter who’s steering it, it’s heading over the cliff,” he said. Light believes the issues are no longer those of the ideological right versus the left, but rather those of “We the People” versus the government. “We are Americans,” he said. “We need to remember what it’s like to stand up for freedom.” Standing up for freedom is what Shay and other group members say they are doing by participating in the rallies and sharing their message. The country, Shay said, is in trouble and “We the People,” she added, are the only ones who can do anything about it. “Our main purpose is to wake people up,” Shay said. “It’s my passion. I live for this organization.”
Posted on: Mon, 20 Oct 2014 15:03:43 +0000