The Chicago Tea Party- Putting the “civil” in “civil disobedience”

The Chicago Tea Party- Putting the “civil” in “civil disobedience”

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Did you know that Chicago was the site of TWO tax day “tea parties” today? Of course there was one in Federal Plaza earlier today, but did you know the other one is happening just outside our studios on Navy Pier? This one is sponsored by Chicago Young Republicans and is happening aboard the Tall Ship Windy, a tall ship docked at Navy Pier. I went out on our terrace and had a birds-eye view of the festivities. The first thing I noticed was the empty wooden crates with “Tea” written across them in black paint. Then I saw the 5 television news crews. Before I knew it, a photo op was happening before my eyes. It went like this, two representatives for the Young Republicans took the “tea” crates and gently dropped them over the edge of the ship as all five cameramen filmed them. Moments after all the “tea” was disposed of, crew members of the Windy jumped overboard and started tossing the crates back onto the deck. It turns out the Windy’s lifeboat was just below deck to catch the crates before they went into Lake Michigan. Could the reason be they didn’t have a dumping permit? I shot this video of it if you want to see for yourself: That seems awfully polite if you ask me. Wasn’t the power of the original Boston Tea Party the fact that they destroyed the tea? If you’re really upset about taxes, I’d try to work up some stronger imagery, Young Republicans…