With as many as 20,000 people in attendance, the Atlanta Tea Party on April 15 was one of the largest and most successful Tea Parties in the country. The Atlanta Tea Party on July 4, 2009 had been expected to be just as large. Unfortuantely, plans have changed. Simon Property Group has forced the cancellation of the Atlanta Tea Party.
The Atlanta Tea Party was forced to cancel its Independence Day celebration in Gwinnett, after losing its location due to the objection of Gwinnett Place Mall (a Simon company.) The Tea Party had been scheduled to take place in the parking lot of the old Macy's building at Gwennett Place since March.
"It is unfortunate the event had to be canceled," said Julianne Thompson, event co-organizer. She continued, "The old Macy's building is on private property, and not owned by Simon Malls, however the mall manager asked the property owner and I to come in the office on Thursday of this week [June 18], and told us Simon does not want political events on its property. They were also concerned about the fact we were using the term 'protest.' Although the event was on private property, the mall was able to assert authority on the matter due to reciprocal property easement agreements."
Event Co-Chair Debbie Dooley stated, "Our Atlanta Tea Party team tried for the next day and a half to find an alternative location large enough for the event, and with the proper layout for our vendors, children's activities, and fireworks show, but we could not find anything suitable that would have been available on July 4th.
...With just a few days left until the Fourth of July Tea Parties begin, this is very unfortunate timing! You wonder why Simon Property Group waited until now to interfere.
Now, digging deeper...
The story behind the story here
Update I:
Following the Money
- Gwinnett Place Mall shut down the Atlanta Tea Party.
- Simon Property Group owns Gwinnett Place Mall.
- Melvin Simon (a Forbes 400 billionaire) is CEO/Co-chairman of Simon Property Group.
- Melvin Simon & his wife have provided large political donations to Barack Obama, Hillary Clinton, Al Franken, John Edwards, & the DNC.
- Melvin Simon was a major contributor to Barack Obama's inaugural committee (to the tune of $50,000) and has given at least $1 million to the William J. Clinton foundation.
Update II:
Melvin Simon Political Donations
Friends of Hillary
2008: $2,300
Hillary Clinton
2007: $4,600
Hoosiers For Hill
2007: $2,300
Al Franken For Senate
2007: $2,300
Friends of Senator Carl Levin (D)
2008: $1000
John Edwards
2004: $2,000
DNC Services Corporation/Democratic National Committee
2007: $100
And last but not least, Simon's local senator, and Obama's newest "moderate" Republican cheerleader, Dick Lugar
2008: $6,800
Sources: Huffpost and campaignmoney.com
Update III
The Simon Family
Melvin's wife Bren personally donated almost $100,000 to political candidates, was a fundraiser for Hillary Clinton’s presidential bid, and contributed to President Obama’s inaugural committee (to the tune of $50,000). Bren Simon's political connections.
Update IV here
Contact: Simon Properties
More to follow...
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