Hooker Day Parade, III

Hartford, CT

Eclectic might be a good description.

Hooker Day Parade, II

Hartford, CT

The Hooker Day Parade bills itself as "zany," but the terms home-made and low-tech might apply equally well. There was one carefully costumed high school band, but the rest of the marchers were a motley, and proud of it.

Hooker Day Parade, I

Hartford, CT

No, it's not what you think. The parade is in honor of Thomas Hooker,  the leader of the settlers of Hartford, Connecticut's state capital. The parade was first held in 1991, was discontinued in 2001, and then revived in 2008 by a local business association. This year's parade celebrates Hartford's 375th anniversary. That's Hartford's mayor, Pedro Segarra, above, portraying Rev. Hooker. The marchers show a mix of pilgrim/colonial and Halloween themes.

Hartford, CT

Discarded

Waterbury, CT

FORD

Woodbury, CT

The series from the "Swamp" rally at the state capital is finished. I think I will post somewhat related, randomly encountered, subjects for a while. Maybe not daily, but probably close.

"Drain the Swamp Rally," VII

Hartford, CT

Hartford, CT

"Drain the Swamp Rally," VI

Hartford, CT

Hartford, CT

"Drain the Swamp Rally," V

Hartford, CT

Hartford, CT

"Drain the Swamp Rally," IV

Hartford, CT

Hartford, CT

"Drain the Swamp Rally," III

Hartford, CT

Hartford, CT

"Drain the Swamp Rally," II

Hartford, CT

Hartford, CT

"Drain the Swamp Rally," I

Hartford, CT

 Hartford, CT

Last Saturday several hundred people turned up for a rally on the grounds of Connecticut's state capital, in Hartford. The organizers were a number of groups associated with the "Tea Party Movement" and most of the speakers during the two hour event were running for political office. Each speaker was invariably introduced as a True Conservative and Real Patriot. They denounced generally all incumbents, but especially the "communists and socialists" they assert are running Washington, DC. A theme that every speaker seemed to stress was that to fix the dire condition of the state and nation, they wanted to cut government, and cut all non-defense spending. As though economic problems have nothing to do with funding the military industrial complex, or fighting two (going on three) foreign wars.

The audience seemed to have a broader range of concerns, though all expressed from an extremist right wing viewpoint. For the next few days I'll post pictures from the event and let the slogans on the signs and T-shirts speak for themselves.

Brazen Betties, V

Torrington, CT

The block party continued with an instrumental "surfer band," complete with go-go dancers. The band was called The Clams, because, "we don't sing."

Brazen Betties IV

Torrington, CT

The local art association, Art Well, participated by making space available for "pinup inspired art" and here's some of it.

Brazen Betties Fashion Show, III

Torrington, CT

Brazen Betties Fashion Show, II

Torrington, CT

As always, you can view a larger version of the picture by clicking in the image. Use your browser's back button to return.

Brazen Betties Fashion Show, I

Torrington, CT

Tax Day Rallies, VIII

Hartford, CT

Tax Day Rallies, VII

Hartford, CT

Tax Day Rallies, VI

Hartford, CT

The Capital Police Force estimated the Hartford crowd at 1,200. That seems a bit generous to me. I pegged it at more like 900, but I can't claim any special training in crowd estimation. Most of the speakers for over two hours spent part of their time defending against anticipated criticism of, "the movement," as radical, racist, extremist, or stupid. They dislike all of these categorizations, except perhaps "radical" which some at least seem to be adopting as a badge of honor. But one strong-voiced middle-aged man, waving his hand broadly over the crowd, declared "look at this diversity!"

I was stunned. I'd been looking for non-white faces. I'd seen fewer than a dozen. Three black people including the young man above, twice that many of Asian heritage. The final speaker was a local businessman who told his story of coming from Puerto Rico with nothing, to make a success at the American dream. He emphatically identified himself as not an Hispanic-American, but as an American of Hispanic ancestry.

Tax Day Rallies, V

Hartford, CT

Tax Day Rallies, IV

Hartford, CT

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Tax Day Rallies, III

Hartford, CT

New Milford, CT

Tax Day Rallies, II

Hartford, CT

Uncivil Discourse

New Milford, CT

Tax Day rally. Click on the pictures for a closer look.