LBCC 3rd Annual Liberty Tree Fair

The original plan for the Liberty Tree Fair was to be in the court yard on a sunny day complete with Old Glory and our own “Liberty Tree”. Perhaps that was part of the problem on Thursday when the weather did not cooperate and just a few organization appeared in Takena Hall.

Photo from therealrevo.com

The original Liberty Tree is where the patriots of the American Revolution met to plan their strategy for dealing with the British tyranny. The LBCC democracy club, Democracy in Action, hosted the fair in the spirit of the Liberty Tree. This is the third year the club has hosted the event.

The Democracy Club invited any and all political, civil and community parties and groups in the area to make an appearance and spread the word of their views and ideologies to students and the general public. Exercising our 1^st Amendment rights of freedom of speech is the key to our democratic republic.

Hannah DeVyldere

A few of the groups that made the appearance was Hannah DeVyldere with Oregon2012.org. They were collecting signatures to put on the ballot a measure to make it illegal to use public money for abortions. Hannah noticed that even people who are pro-choice signed the petition in their understanding that not everyone is for abortions, and the public shouldn’t have to pay for it.

All photos by Dale Hummel

 A representative from Americans for Prosperity was there. He was explaining that the group is non-partisan with conservative values. Jim Clausen, the representative, suggested visiting www. AmericansforPosperity.org for more information

The Republican and Democratic Party sat nearly across from each other and seemed to be “fishing” as potential supporters walked by. Josh Carper of the Linn County Democrats provided some lively and challenging debates.

A couple of representatives from the Occupy movement had positioned themselves at the event. Unfortunately, they didn’t seem to be in much of a mood to debate or discuss their views when confronted by people with opposing views and opinions.

At the north end of Takena Hall was a table with a prize wheel. An individual would spin the wheel and answer a question about our rights and the Amendments to the Constitution. Anyone who spun the wheel, correct answer or not, won a small prize. A correct answer would earn a pen or key chain. Three correct answers would earn a t-shirt.

Even though the 3rd Annual Liberty Tree Fair at Takena Hall wasn’t quite the success it was meant to be, it was successful nonetheless. For more on Democracy in Action, the LBCC democracy club, please contact Dr. Robert Harrison by email. harrisr@linnbenton.edu, and don’t forget to exercise your 1^st Amendment rights.