Colleen Conley is a wife, mother and a small-business owner with Anzu. Now she has become an activist. Conley is the project coordinator in Rhode Island for something called Tax Day Tea Party, which is being touted as a nationwide protest on April 15. Conley answered a few questions about the effort.
PBN: What exactly is the Tax Day Tea Party, and what is your involvement?
CONLEY: The Providence Tax Day Tea Party is part of the Nationwide Tax Day Tea Party in which hundreds of thousands of citizens from 500 cities across the country will peacefully demonstrate against reckless government spending and taxes. The Providence event will take place on April 15 from 3 to 6 p.m. on the [Statehouse’s] city-side steps. There will be speakers, live music, kids activities, a voter-registration drive and a food drive for the Rhode Island Community Food Bank. Parking is available at the Providence Place mall.
I am the Rhode Island state coordinator for the tea party and am working closely with a dedicated team of volunteers – as well as Ocean State Policy Research Institute (our primary state sponsor) – reaching out to individuals and various citizens groups and organizations across the state who would like to unite in making their voices heard by our elected leaders that we have had enough of the outrageous spending.
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PBN: Are you normally the type of person to get involved with these types of events?
CONLEY: I have never been involved with a protest of any kind. I have worked on a couple of political campaigns and held an appointed position for 10 years on a town board in Massachusetts, where I previously lived. Until now, that was the extent of my political activism.
I feel that now is a critical time for regular citizens to re-engage in the civic process, as too much is at stake in our state and country to remain uninvolved.
PBN: What spurred you to get involved here and now?
CONLEY: The out-of-control government spending, unending bailouts and potential bankrupting of our country spurred my involvement. As a mother, I felt compelled to stand up and fight for the financial well-being of this country which my children will one day inherit.
PBN: What kind of turnout are you expecting at the Statehouse on April 15?
CONLEY: The response has been astounding. People from the left, the right and everyone in between have expressed great enthusiasm for the Tea Party. I am cautiously optimistic that this will be one of the largest demonstrations in Rhode Island history.
PBN: How does someone get involved?
CONLEY: Anyone can get involved by going to our Web site, at www.RITeaParty.com, and contacting me or any of our team leaders. I can be contacted directly by phone at (508) 243-3824.
