Yesterday, literally hundreds-of-thousands of American citizens from all walks of life stood up for their freedom by standing up and cheering at almost 1,000 Taxpayer Tea Parties across the nation, organized by hundreds of citizen-activists who gave up huge amounts of time from their busy lives to put together these events that blew away expectations in city after city. This represents a true grassroots uprising, with citizen-led groups like Tea Party Patriots and many others providing critical support in coordinating these events across America.

Standing on the same stage as Sean Hannity in Atlanta, Georgia last night, I looked out over a crowd of more than 15,000 people – a young couple with their three young children in tow holding a sign that said “Our children…Our future.”, an elderly gentleman standing with the assistance of a cane wearing a 101st Airborne Veteran baseball cap and waving a sign that said “Got Freedom?," two University of Georgia t-shirt-wearing coeds holding a large sign that said “Tell the Politicians to cut THEIR budgets – we’re already cutting ours” and so many more. This phenominal event was put together with a lot of painstaking work by Jenny Beth Martin, Debbie Ellis, Amy Kremer, and AFP's own Virginia Galloway.

In Austin, Texas, our Texas Americans for Prosperity state director, Peggy Venable, helped organize a rally where thousands of folks showed up, including Governor Perry-- one of the few governors in the country fighting the good fight for our freedoms.

In Madison, Wisconsin – yes Madison, one of the most liberal big government areas of the nation – our Americans for Prosperity state director Mark Block, the rock-star of radio Vicki McKenna, and other citizen organizers welcomed more than 8,000 people to a rally for freedom, for lower taxes and less debt! 

In Sacramento, California – home to the largest state budget deficit in American history last year – our Americans for Prosperity team of David Spady and Jennifer Kerns assisted great citizen organizers like Mark Meckler, who did a superb job in spearheading the effort, in bring ingtogether more than 5,000 grassroots activists demanding an end to tax and spend policies that are literally killing what once was the most vibrant economy in the nation. 

At nearly 40 rallies across North Carolina, our AFP state director Dallas Woodhouse worked with citizen organizers and volunteers in getting folks signed up for future battles. 

And that’s what I want to talk with you about for just a moment more.

You see, we cannot view these Taxpayer Tea Parties as an end.

Instead, we must use them as a beginning. 

So today I want to share with you the next steps.

First, on October 2nd in Washington, D.C. Americans for Prosperity will be hosting the National Taxpayer Tea Party at the Capitol.  Why October 2nd?  That’s when we expect the final debates to be occurring over the massive Obama budget. 

Please make plans now to attend this massive event.  For more information click here.

Second, please consider hosting a local grassroots organizing event at your home or somewhere in your community.  We will provide a “Home Organizing” kit to help guide you through the process but it’s pretty easy.  You may get 12 people out or you may get 50 – either way you’ll get more people involved.     

It’s so important for grassroots activists like you to get to know the folks who care as much as you do, who believe like you do.  These local events are not that hard and they’re a lot of fun.  Plus, we will help you organize these events.  Finally, please know that our opponents are holding literally thousands of these local events this year and we’ve got to match them if we’re going to win. 

Third, go to our website, americansforprosperity.org and pull down the contact information for your two U.S. Senators, your member of the House of Represenatives  and your state representatives.  Then, commit to contacting them on a consistent basis about key issues such as taxes and spending beginning with the outrageous Obama budget.  Also commit to forwarding their contact information to your friends and family whenever an important issue comes up. 

Not long ago, I was speaking with Senator Jim DeMint and I asked him if it mattered when people call, email or fax their members of Congress.  Senator DeMint said, “Tim, it matters more than ever before." Most Senators get a daily update on the number of people contacting their office and where they stand on the issues. 

I realize we’re asking a lot from you. 

But, we face the most dangerous threat to our economic freedom in generations.  The very fabric of our lives – from the way our health care is handled, to the way our children are educated, to the way our incomes are taxed, to the way our businesses are run, to the way we use energy, to the way the government impacts the basic personal decisions we make – hangs in the balance. 

Unfortunately, we face a President and Congress determined to make government bigger, stronger, and more dominant. They really believe that government knows best. And if they get their way, freedom – your freedom and mine – will wane. 

So, we must do what Americans always do when faced with a challenge: We must work and fight and sacrifice our time and treasure in order to protect our freedom.

Thank you for all you are doing and more importantly, for all you are going to do for freedom.

Tim Phillips

P.S.  Save the date of October 2nd for the National Taxpayer Tea Party in Washington at the Capitol to make the final push of the year!  Go to our website to let me know you’re interested or even better, committed to coming.  And, remember to take a look at the pictures and coverage of the Taxpayer Tea Parties from yesterday.  They were great – but remember they’re a beginning, not an end.

Enjoy video and pictures from our events below: