Tea Party Descends Upon Huntington

American flags and homemade signs permeated the side-lawn of the busy Huntington intersection at Jericho Turnpike and Stowe Avenue on Sunday afternoon as the Conservative Society for Action (CSA), which has become the preeminent Tea Party movement of Suffolk County, was holding a "call for action meet up," hoping to draw attention to its cause.

The approximately 100 people in attendance on this hot August afternoon were an eclectic mix of activists. From teenagers to senior citizens and from first-time protesters to seasoned politicians, these activists appeared to share one common sentiment: a general suspicion that their elected officials are disconnected from reality.

The protester's homespun signs carried messages such as "Dump Israel," referring to Rep. Steve Israel, "Stop The Spending" and "In God We Trust." One man, wearing a colonial hat, was shouting "throw the bums out" on a megaphone, and motorists passing by were quick to honk their horns in support of the CSA rally.

While the signs and chants of the protesters indicated a politically strategic motive, the comments of the individual attendees revealed a broader feeling of betrayal.

"We just want representation," said Harvey Sherman of Plainview. "We never see Mr. Israel. He picks and chooses where he meets and who he talks to."

Huntington resident Chris Stern said he believes that the Tea Party movement is serving to awaken Long Islanders as to the cause of their present woes. "More people are becoming aware of our situation," Stern said.

Speaking of the federal government, Stern added, "People are becoming alarmed at what they're doing to the nation."

Rodee Hansen of Northport was brought to tears by her concern for America, "I've never been politically involved except for this term." said Rosen, a native of Germany, who explained that she has never been so frightened about the future of her adopted country. "I'm so angry at what's going on."

Some protesters, such as John Hales of Massapequa, were more emphatic in their disdain for their representatives: "I want our politicians to be held more accountable for their actions," Hales said. "I think what we have now is a dictatorship."

Republican John Gomez, Israel's opponent in the upcoming midterm elections, attended this Tea Party event. The candidate had this to say about the rally: "When you have people coming out like this, spending their Sunday afternoons in the summer heat, it inspires me. It gives me a lot of energy."

Irrespective of election results, there does appear to be a general animosity between Huntington's Tea party movement and Israel. Perhaps Art DiScala, the Huntington Coordinator of the Conservative Society for Action and the organizer of Sunday's event, summed it up best.

"We don't believe in socialism in this country, said DiScala in response to a question regarding his motives for organizing this rally. "We believe in a republic, a democracy. ... The people are uprising; they are going to the streets."