Mission Accomplished! – Videos and Pictures from Libertyfest in Quartzsite, AZ
If you have pictures or video of the Quartzsite event that you would like to share, please email them to: quartzsite@oathkeepers.org
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Message from Stewart Rhodes:
MISSION ACCOMPLISHED IN QUARTZSITE
This past weekend, Oath Keepers marched in Quartzsite, along with the Sons of Liberty Riders, the Greater Phoenix Tea Party Patriots, Arizona Campaign for Liberty, Riders USA, and many other groups. We went there to support ten stand-up police officers who kept their oaths by refusing to obey orders that violated the rights of the people. And that is exactly what we did. We marched to the Quartzsite Town Hall and presented the “Quartzsite Ten” police officers with certificates recognizing them for honoring and keeping their oaths to defend the Constitution. Each was also presented with a silver Oath Keepers challenge coin. Officer William Ponce accepted the awards for those officers who could not be there, and said a few words to the crowd about the critical importance of the oath. He spoke of how he had taken that oath first in military service, and then as a peace officer, and told the audience that he, and the other officers, take it very seriously. He also spoke after the march, with several other officers joining him on the stage.
We also honored Quartzsite Mayor Ed Foster and local liberty activists Jennifer Jones and Michael Roth, all of whom have risked arrest and other forms of retaliation, while refusing to back down in their fight for transparency in government and respect for the free speech rights of the people.
Joining us on our march were current serving Arizona Representatives Carl Seel and Judy Burges. Both attended the awards ceremony, and both spoke after the march, emphasizing the critical importance of transparency in government, the keeping of the oath, and the need for the state of Arizona to serve as a guardian of the rights of the people. They had an opportunity to meet with and talk to some of the “Quartzsite Ten” police officers as well as with Mayor Foster, Jennifer Jones, and Michael Roth. It was great to see state legislators taking the time to come and see for themselves what has been going on in Quartzsite, and we hope this is the beginning of further inquiry and action by the Arizona legislature in this matter. It is critical that sate officials in all three branches keep their own oaths to defend the Constitution of the United States and their state constitution by serving as a guardian of the rights of the people against abuse by local officials and officers. As our Declaration of Independence made clear, the only legitimate purpose of government is to secure our rights, and if one level of government is abusing our rights, it is incumbent on the next level to investigate and to take action to stop the abuse.
After the march, we had a wonderful celebration of liberty with several excellent speakers, including Tony Martinez, the Founder of the Sons of Liberty Riders, Ernest Hancock of Freedom’s Phoenix (who also live streamed the event), Mayor Ed Foster, Jennifer Jones, Michael Roth, Officer William Ponce, and many others. And we also enjoyed the amazing music of the talented patriot musician, Jordan Page.
Though the heat was punishing, and the march in 110 degrees was a definite gut check, those who were there had no regrets and we would all do it again. As for Oath Keepers, we had a strong showing from our Nevada and California Chapters. And we had Oath Keepers from as far away as Alaska, Montana, and even Florida! We also had the pleasure of meeting a large contingent from New Mexico, who will be helping us in that state in the future. Considering how short the notice was, and how brutally hot it was, we had a very successful liberty gathering and we look forward to doing it again.
It is critical that we stand up in support of police and military who do the right thing by keeping their oaths, just as it is critical that we stand up and hold them accountable when they don’t (as we did in Tucson). Here, in Quartzsite, we have ten good police officers, ten stand up Americans, and we were most honored to meet them, shake their hands, look them in the eye, and hear their story. They give us great hope for the future. We encourage you to get to know them by watching the videos of their public statements, and we encourage you to seek out the good officers in your own community. They are there. Find them, and give them your support and back them up when they do what is right. Encourage them to keep their oaths, and as part of YOU keeping your own oath, be ready to stand with them when the chips are down.
Hooah!
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The ParkerLive Online newspaper has done a really good coverage of our Quartzsite muster and march, with excellent pictures. Here is the article itself, but please go to their site for their collection of pics -- here is one example, courtesy of ParkerLive Online:
Quartzsite_ParkerLiveOnline
http://www.parkerliveonline.com/2011/08/29/quartzsite-rally-attracts-hundreds/
Saturday’s Quartzsite Liberty Festival made its mark on Quartzsite Saturday as planned, despite temperatures of 114 to 117 degrees.
The rally was arranged to protest the actions of the town’s council and police chief, most conspicuously the treatment of Quartzsite police officers who were suspended or fired in what the protestors say was retaliation for bringing formal allegations against Chief Jeff Gilbert.
Marchers chanted “Quartzsite Ten, oath-keeping men” as they walked over 2.5 miles from an RV park south of I-10, over the freeway bridge and along the streets of Quartzsite to Town Hall.
Several politically active groups were in attendance, including Oath Keepers, the Tea Party Patriots, the Sons of Liberty Riders and campaigners for Ron Paul for President 2012.
Many attendees carried flags, banners and signs. Some were armed with pistols or rifles, and cameras of all sorts. Law enforcement and other authorities were largely absent from the demonstration.
Chilled water bottles were available to the heat-weary crowd, and Grubstake bar and restaurant was flooded with people during a stop-off along the route. Some were seen pouring water over their heads. Others’ clothing appeared to be almost entirely soaked with sweat.
Quartzsite Mayor Ed Foster said people had flown in from around the United States for the rally, from states as far and wide as Alaska, Florida, Texas and Connecticut. “I live here and I’m having a hard time in this heat, so I know, for these people from [colder states], it’s gotta be tough on them”, he said.
Local activist Jennifer Jones, the video of whose arrest at a public meeting provoked outrage on the internet, said the people had braved the weather to send a strong message about the importance of liberty.
Standing in front of the doors of the council chambers that she was hauled out of months earlier, Jones told a cheering crowd, “God bless each and every one of you for coming and standing with the citizens of this town today. Right is right and wrong is wrong, and the rule of law applies to everyone.”
Among the speakers at the event were Arizona State Legislators Carl Seel and Judy Burges, and Libertarian Party activist Barry Hess.
-end article by the Parker Live Online- (please see pics at above link) -
Oath Keepers wishes to thank Ernest Hancock of Freedom’s Phoenix in Phoenix, Arizona, for getting Jordan Page to the event, and we thank Jordan for carrying the load with entertainment.
http://www.freedomsphoenix.com/Front-Page.htm
http://www.jordanpagemusic.com/news.html
Oath Keepers also wishes to salute Vito, of Vito’s RV Park, for an outstanding effort to host our gathering on Friday and Saturday, August 26 and 27, 2011. Anyone traveling I-10 between Phoenix and Los Angeles, please drop by Vito’s and meet an outstanding Patriot.
http://www.city-data.com/profiles/39769
Thanks to Patriot57 for these pics
Click the pics to enlarge.
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Thanks to Chip Saunders and Yvonne
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Oath Keepers salutes every Patriot who showed up and marched in that 110-plus desert heat. We wish to send a strong and grateful salute to the Sons of Liberty Riders and RidersUSA, who did the impossible on Harleys while providing escort security for the visiting Arizona legislators and the march itself.
http://americanlibertyriders.ning.com/
RidersUSA -also furnished a hundred and fifty American flags for the event.
Oath Keepers salutes the Greater Phoenix Tea Party Patriots for all the support they furnished, with a tip of the hat for Kelly Townsend -
http://phoenixteaparty.ning.com/
Oath Keepers salutes the Arizona State Guard and the Liberty Corps of New Mexico for providing security -- the guys with the guns were awesome!
Oath Keepers salutes the Arizona Campaign For Liberty -
http://www.campaignforliberty.com/usa/AZ/
A special salute goes to the Arizona Department of Public Safety and the two officers who briefed us Friday afternoon before Saturday’s march. We are grateful!
Oath Keepers also salutes the undercover agents from Federal and State agencies who were there inconspicuously to monitor the march -- we appreciate your being there.
I, personally, wish to thank Chief Gilbert for not interfering with the march while at the same time keeping an eye on us to prevent any problems during the march.
Oath Keepers salutes the following individuals for heavy lifting in organizational work:
Vito of Vito’s RV Park, Quartzsite, Arizona
Ray Epps, President of Arizona Oath Keepers
Gerald Rhoades, Vice President of Arizona Oath Keepers
Mike Frye of Arizona Oath Keepers
Kait Hylton of Arizona Oath Keepers
Michael Bailey of Greater Phoenix Tea Party Patriots, Sons of Liberty
Mike Chism of Idaho Oath Keepers
Gerri Westrick of Montana Oath Keepers
Shorty Dawkins of Montana Oath Keepers
Ed Foster, former Mayor of Quartzsite
Jennifer ‘Jade’ Jones, resident Patriot activist of Quartzsite
Richard Oldham, former (founding) Mayor of Quartzsite
Michael Roth, resident Patriot activist of Quartzsite
Dani Rascon of Los Angeles Oath Keepers
John Oetken of Orange County (CA) Oath Keepers
George Pulsifer of Orange County (CA) Oath Keepers
Steve Simpson of Inland Empire Oath Keepers
Yvonne Oulman of Northern California Oath Keepers
Tracey Croteau of Florida Oath Keepers
Cindy Sullivan of Georgia Oath Keepers
Kelly Townsend of Greater Phoenix Tea Party Patriots
Tony Martinez, the Founder of the Sons of Liberty Riders
Wendy Schops, President, Arizona Sons of Liberty Riders
Cope and his good men of the Liberty Corps of New Mexico
The Arizona State Guard
Again -- Oath Keepers salutes every Patriot who came and/or supported this mission, including the hundreds whose names are not mentioned here.
Mission Accomplished! -- Thanks to each of you.
OATH KEEPERS -- WE PITCH GREAT MARCHES!
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Please donate and support Oath Keepers mission, every little bit helps!
August 29th, 2011 at 8:29 pm
3-400 equipped Patriots gathered in Quartzite with the Oath Keepers to support the 10, of 14, town police officers who have willfully refused to follow any further tyrannical orders from their police chief, jeff gilbert. A foot and vehicle order of march rally advanced on the town hall. Traffic control and V.I.P. security was provided by the Sons of Liberty Riders. The town hall was secured by rifle bearing members of the Arizona State Guard and the Liberty Corps of New Mexico. No other militias from the state of Arizona or elsewhere attended the event. The police did nothing, nor did the Police Chief speak on his own behalf. We won, hands down.
August 29th, 2011 at 11:53 pm
Some wonderful things happened in Quartzsite over the weekend of August 26-28, 2011. Several groups came together in common spirit to celebrate the courage of the Quartzsite Ten, the elected town Mayor of Quartzsite, and the local political activists.
Before this comment thread takes off like a firecracker rocket outside the Full Moon Saloon, I just want to note that Oath Keepers salutes every single Patriot who pitched in and made this event a success. We also want to thank Arizona’s two Representatives who lent their day to the people of Quartzsite on Saturday, for both the march and the muster, and especially do we wish to thank Representative Judy Burges for inviting also Representative Carl Seel – who has now promised publicly to see to it that Mayor Foster shall get the documents he has long sought from the town Council. That is huge, in and of itself, a true victory for liberty in Quartzsite.
But we also must thank many others who made the event a success, from the armed independent militias providing extra security to the former Secret Service and under-cover Federal and State agents who oversaw security – from the End The Fed folks to the irreplaceable Ernest Hancock of Freedom’s Phoenix – from the Sons of Liberty Riders to the Greater Phoenix Tea Party Patriots – and other groups too many to name in this one post, Oath Keepers proudly salutes every individual Patriot who showed up, shouldered the load, took to the road for freedom, and paid the price in 115 degree heat or provided assistance to the march and marchers. Special thanks to the EMT folks who rescued the one (only one, thankfully!) heat casualty. And a big special thanks to Jordan Page who provided the inspirational music after the march and muster on Saturday.
We had several significant victories, and I would like to make it known that Police Chief Gilbert was in communication with me prior to the march, as also was the Arizona Department of Public Safety, and Oath Keepers appreciates their assistance in helping make sure this march was a peaceful and productive rally. We also wish to thank Mayor Foster and Sgt. William Ponce and the Quartzsite Ten. Equally important, Oath Keepers wishes to thank Vito of Vito’s RV Park for being an excellent host to the event. Oath Keepers thanks the citizens and business community of Quartzsite for wonderful hospitality, including the Grubstake Steak House, the Taco Mia, and the Quartzsite Yacht Club motel and bar. Finally, Oath Keepers salutes the unstoppable Jennifer ‘Jade’ Jones, whose most-recent arrest in Quartzsite sparked the many latent fuses and brought everything on line to a merger of public interest and political engagement.
Salute!
Elias
August 30th, 2011 at 5:35 am
Great job guys,I wish I could have been there!I’ve been following this story from the start.
August 30th, 2011 at 9:40 am
Wow, no takers Elias?
August 30th, 2011 at 12:19 pm
First, a hearty salute to all of those that came from near and far to participate in this very important Patriotic event. The march was long and it was hot, but there was an air of importance that out weighed the elements and distance. The Patriots that gathered that day were there to show those that had doubts about how serious of a debacle not only Quartzsite but so many other towns and cities are facing, to include our entire nation. I was extremely impressed with the members of the Quartzsite 10 that I met and how friendly and determined they were to see justice done. My total admiration and respect go out to you. Sgt. Ponce, you are a shining star in the town of Quartzsite, it is so sad that SOME are trying to extinguish your flame, but if you continue to show our professionalism and heart in this matter as you have so far, your light will never go dim and Quarztsite will be a better town once you are back on the force. Jennifer Jones, my hat is off to you for having the determination to stand up against tyranny and the forces that drive our towns and cities into the ground. I wish there were more citizens like you that would stand for what is right and not be bullied by the power grabbers. Mayor Ed Foster, a true Patriot. I had the pleasure of visiting with him on several occasions Friday and Saturday and on the return march was with him most of the way. On one occasion we had stopped at a rest stop and the Mayor and I sat next to each other. As we chatted, others in the group were trying to convince the Mayor to catch a ride back to Vitos. The Mayor with his can do and I guess his Marine mindset of never give up said as long as there were others still there marching for him and the Q10, he would be right there by their side. He was not about to let others make the march for him, he was was going to make it with them. And guess what, he did and with his determination was the first one back to camp. He said he would do it and he did and I can only believe that when he took his oath of office, he was and is going to follow that oath. Today we see too many people take an oath and then leave it in the trash on the way out the door and with that, they act not on any principle or foundation, they act out of greed, egotism and the ugly cause of power. With that said, We will do it again when necessary, any place, any time.
Bill, Salome AZ
August 30th, 2011 at 12:45 pm
What a wonderful rally! I was there and it was so inspiring and heart warming to see all the folks who turned out! Quatzsite AZ is ANY-TOWN, USA! and Jennifer Jones IS YOU OR ME! I am so thankful for the OATH KEEPERS, Sons of Liberty Riders and all who participated. I saw Americans standing up for doing the RIGHT THING…and made me even prouder of US, We the People, than ever:)
Vito’s RV park was a great place to stay for the rally and we had the best hospitality ever! Great folks in Q, AZ!
August 30th, 2011 at 1:16 pm
We all owe a debt if gratitude to Elias for organizing the Oathkeepers sponsorship of the rally in Quartzsite. This isn’t about Quartzsite specifically. It is much bigger than that. It’s about the dog groomers, the barbers, the hair stylist, the owners of small motels or diners, all the average citizens who don’t aspire to positions of power, but only want to live their lives as free human beings — regular people wanting to live their lives as free people.
I was at Quartzsite, and the one thing I came away with is that there are so many more of us, regular citizens, than them, those who seek power and wealth at the expense of the rest of us. To the extent that this republic is governed by the democratic voting process, we out-number them by at least 10 to 1. If you are among the regular folk, and are not a registered voter, shame on you. Get registered and cast your vote. It is the least you can do considering how much others have and are laying on the line to save this country to be what the founders envisioned.
September 1st, 2011 at 2:44 am
Yes Gerri, we do outnumberthem 10-1. Most people believe otherwise. Sad for them.
September 1st, 2011 at 2:46 am
Thanks for being there Mr. Rhodes. It would have been nice if Sheriff Mack could have made it.
September 1st, 2011 at 2:49 pm
Well, guess what …
http://www.kswt.com/story/15364210/quartzsite-elects-new-mayor-on-recall-election