Over 8,500 Attended Houston Tea Party

HOUSTON, TX--(Marketwire - April 17, 2009) - The Houston Tea Party rocked Jones Plaza on Wednesday, April 15th! Organizers counted 8,532 protesters who signed in at tables just inside the gates. But as the crowd grew, significant numbers arriving inside the gates were unaware of the sign-in, so organizers estimate total attendance was in excess of 10,000.

"The Tea Party was a stunning success!" said lead Tea Party organizer Felicia Cravens. "Attendance topped our best estimates -- that, together with the fact that 400 new volunteers signed up to work on the upcoming July 4th event, proves the movement is growing."

A diverse line-up of speakers delighted the crowd with their views on out-of-control government spending. Two speakers especially captivated the audience. They were immigrants turned U.S. citizens who recounted their journeys from socialist countries and their distress at seeing the heavy hand of socialism emerging in the last place they expected -- America.

The event was emceed by Mrs. Cravens, radio personalities Walton & Johnson ("The Arrow," 93.7 FM) and Natalie Arcineaux, another radio personality ("The Civil Right," 1070 AM) and Tea Party organizer who put together the on-stage line-up.

About 2,000 protesters left the Plaza to follow Tea Party organizers in a march on the Houston Chronicle. They circled the Chronicle building, repeatedly shouting, "Print this, print this...," expressing their frustration with the Houston media for under-covering and under-counting the first Tea Party in February.

The Houston Tea Party Society has grown from the three organizers who planned the first event in February -- Cravens, her daughter Chelsea and Josh Parker -- to 150 who worked on Wednesday's event, where 400 more signed up to work on the next July 4th Houston Tea Party.

The Houston Tea Party was joined by events in Friendswood, Pearland, Sugar Land, The Woodlands, Conroe and other locations, resulting in over 25,000 in attendance throughout the greater Houston area.

The Houston Tea Party website is located at http://houstontps.org.

**More About the Count:

In addition to using sign-in sheets for the head count, Tea Party volunteers at each Plaza entrance used hand-held counters given to them by a representative from the City of Houston.

But just 90 minutes into the 4-hour event, while crowds were still streaming in, the same City worker confiscated the hand-held counters, which registered a count of 4,142, and requested that police officers close the gates. When the crowd began shouting, after learning the gates had been closed, the officers re-opened them and the crowds streamed in.

Contact Information: Contact: Lanelle Samms (281) 480-3768