Free-Market Activists Rally For Energy Independence 6/6/2002
From: Ian Walters of the American Conservative Union, 703-836-8602 ext. 16 Jonathan Collegio of Americans for Tax Reform, 202-785-0266 ALEXANDRIA, Va., June 6 -- Earlier today in Washington D.C. more than 60 citizen champions of free-market policies took to the streets in front of an ExxonMobil service station to hold a demonstration in support of energy independence, democracy, free trade, and patriotism. The rally emerged spontaneously as a counter protest to news that the environmental extremist groups United States Public Interest Research Group (U.S. PIRG) and Greenpeace planned to picket a downtown service station to urge ExxonMobil to cancel any plans to drill in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge (ANWR). "When we heard that leftist activists planned to attack an industry that our nation is dependent upon, we called on our grassroots to show there is a more rational side to the debate," stated American Conservative Union Chairman David Keene. "Opening ANWR creates jobs and works toward freeing our nation from an inappropriate and unsafe dependence on foreign oil." Americans for Tax Reform President Grover Norquist agreed adding, "America is tired of incoherent complaints from environmental extremists. It's time for Americans to stand up to them and that's why we were there today." Clearly a new Conservative street movement is emerging. Free-market grassroots activists, tired of the ungrounded rhetoric from far-left environmental groups, outnumbered the defeated radicals 63 to 12. In addition to more than 60 conservative activists, today's event featured an Exxon "Tiger" mascot and a Saddam Hussein look-alike who held a sign that read: "I hate America and I love Greenpeace." --- To arrange for an interview from an American Conservative Union spokesperson, contact Ian Walters at 703-836-8602 ext. 16 or by email at iwalters@conservative.org To arrange for an interview from an Americans for Tax Reform spokesperson, contact Jonathan Collegio at 202-785-0266 or by email at jcollegio@atr.org |