Members of the Coweta County and Fayette County Tea Party movement joined others Wednesday in Atlanta in a protest to show support for Gov. Scott Walker and the Wisconsin legislature in its move to potentially end many collective bargaining rights for state workers. The anti-protest-protest was also in response to a protest rally in the city held by supporters of the Wisconsin state workers.
Senoia Tea Party Coordinator Joe Cannin said the presence of the Coweta and Fayette group was meant to demonstrate their support for the states that are in fiscal trouble and are attempting to put their fiscal houses in order.
“We were trying to show support for Gov. Walker. We wanted to get a message across to Wisconsin, Indiana and Ohio that they are not alone,” Cannin said Wednesday night. “If (a state) doesn’t have the money to continue the funding and are going broke they have to cut spending.”
Cannin said it is unfortunate that the unions have taken advantage of the fiscal situation that Wisconsin and other states are facing.
“(Union members) think it’s union-busting. I think that’s far from the truth,” said Cannin.
Local and national news outlets reported that hundreds gathered on the Capitol steps Wednesday to protest in support of the union workers in Wisconsin and other states.
Though the numbers of those protesting the protest were not tallied, Cannin said the Tea Party movement supporters from Fayette and Coweta were not deterred from attending. Since the movement was launched nearly two years ago the local groups have been no stranger to having their say, including at a variety of protests and other events.
“(Our involvement) is trying to show that this grassroots movement has been important to the country and we’re supporting people who we believe are right on the issues,” Cannin said.
