Tea Party Express is scheduled to arrive around noon Friday
ESCANABA -- Friday April 9, 2010, 1:32 p.m.
Three buses displaying the Tea Party Express III logo rolled into Escanaba's Ludington Park at about 12:10 p.m on Friday and the high energy has not stopped since.
According to TV6 Escanaba Reporter Beth Jones, speakers are getting up to talk at the Bandshell and they continue to express that they "want to take the country back and have less government control".
Morale at the Tea Party is much different than expected, since the announcement that Congressman Bart Stupak will retire this year. The rally has turned into more of a celebration, and Tea Party members are saying they have "done their job".
All the speeches appear to be happy and inspiring.
The next stop for the Tea Party Express buses will be the Bud-Weber Park in Sault Ste Marie.
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Friday April 9, 2010, 12:38 p.m.
The Tea Party Express has arrived at the Bandshell at Ludington Park in Escanaba.
There are well over 500 people in attendance and according to TV6's Escanaba Bureau Reporter, Beth Jones, energy is very high. People are cheering the arrival of the Tea Party Express bus, waving signs and flying American flags.
The gathering of Tea Party members and supporters has turned into more of a celebration than a rally, since the announcement that Bart Stupak is planning to retire and will not run for a 10th term in Congress.
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Friday April 9, 2010,11:52 a.m.
There are now well over 400 people at Ludington Park in Escanaba waiting for the Tea Party Express to arrive.
Some of those running for state office have made their way to the podium to say a few words, such as Mike Falcon, who will run for 108th District.
Many people are discussing the retirement of Bart Stupak and the consensus, at the Tea Party rally, is that they are ready to see some change in Washington.
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A crowd of over 100 people has already gathered at the Bandshell in Ludington Park in Escanaba Friday morning.
Supporters are preparing, with signs and American flags in hand, for the Tea Party Express which is scheduled to arrive around noon.
What would have been Bart Stupak's Republican opponents, before he made his decision to retire, are meeting and greeting with the crowd.
The Tea Party Express schedule for the U.P. includes stopping by the VFW in Bessemer at 6:30 p.m. CST Thursday, the Bandshell in Ludington Park in Escanaba at noon on Friday, and the Bud-Weber Park in Sault Ste. Marie Friday evening at 6 p.m.
Please check back often as TV6 will keep you updated on the Tea Party Express making its way through the Upper Peninsula.
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