In 1773, American colonists disguised as Mohawk and Narragansett Indians dumped 340 chests of tea into Boston Harbor. They were rejecting the right of the British Parliament to tax them without representation.
Over 250 years later — this morning, on Indigenous Peoples Day — a group of Westporters gathered on the Ruth Steinkraus Cohen Bridge.
Gathering on the Ruth Steinkraus Cohen Bridge.
Disguised as patriots, the Statue of Liberty and more, they dumped a large “T” into the Saugatuck River. They were rejecting the actions of President Trump.
Dumping the “T.”
Trump was one “T” in this modern day “T Party.” The small group carried placards with a long list of other “T”s that, they said, epitomized today’s abrogation of America’s hard-won system of constitutional checks and balances: tariffs, tyranny, terror, torture, turmoil, threats, taunts, tirades, terminations and more.
(All photos/Dan Woog)
It was a low-key event — far less dramatic than the patriots’ Tea Party. It will not lead to a Revolutionary War.
But, participants said, they hoped it would lead to a spotlight on today’s politics.
And on the importance of voting in the coming election our forefathers fought so hard to ensure.
ChatGPT found some more:
Tactless
Temperamental
Terrible
Toxic
Treacherous
Tyrannical
Troublesome
Two-faced
Thoughtless
Touchy
Testy
Tense
Tiresome
Timid
Truculent (aggressively argumentative)
Traitorous
Tetchy (easily irritated)
Taunting
Against taxing? Interesting.
Way to go!
If you missed this event all is not lost. We protest the Trump administration on the bridge every Saturday at 11 o’clock.
Join us!
how is it working out ?
Wonderful! Good for you. So creative and impactful on the Terrible Ts in our workd now. See you Saturday.
Also Tacky, Two-faced, Tubby, Tottering, Thin skinned , Thick waisted, Tasteless. Good job!
Here’s a few more “T’s” to add to your thoughtful the Tea Party
Toxic — Harmful to the emotional well-being of others.
Two-faced — Pretending to be friendly while secretly betraying others.
Treacherous — Disloyal and willing to betray people for personal gain.
Tyrannical — Controlling, domineering, and abusive with power.
Thoughtless — Careless about other people’s feelings and needs.
Thieving — Dishonest and willing to take what belongs to others.
Truculent — Aggressively argumentative and eager to fight.
Tactless — Insensitive and prone to saying hurtful things.
Temperamental — Unpredictable, moody, and quick to become angry.
Transgressive — Deliberately violating boundaries, rules, or social norms without regard for others.
Way to go Westport.
Trump is every T in the list. Brilliant idea and execution.
Today is Columbus Day!
Why do some of these Westporters feel the need to disguise themselves? Panda mask? A Pumpkin, I assume, mask?
Are you embarrassed to show your face because of your neighbors? Do you not want people to understand your stance on America/Trump?
I see this same shyness when march on the Post Rd bridge and hide behind their signs when being photographed.
Is there a reason?
Hi Abigail, I am one of the “usual” protesters on the Post Road bridge every Saturday. Come on by, say hi, and take a picture. I have never seen any of my 25 team mates hide behind a poster.
Hi Abigail, I am one of the “usual” protesters on the Post Road bridge every Saturday. Come on by, say hi, and take a picture. I have never seen any of my 25 team mates hide behind a poster. Art Schoeller
Are there two of you Art?
Thank you for the invitation! I wasn’t aware you and the Gang of 25 were on the bridge every week! Can I dress as Barney, ya know, the Purple Dinosaur and be #26? We are an ‘Art’ town after all!
And Treasonous
I liked it better when they all dressed up as frogs and hopped around.
Congratulations on staging the least consequential protest in American history. The original Tea Party was about taxation without representation. This one appears to be about tantrums without a point.
Since you’re collecting T’s: triggered, tone-deaf, tiresome, toxic, two-faced, tribal, thoughtless, temperamental, and the totalitarian instinct to treat disagreement as treason. Also, dumping junk in the river on Indigenous Peoples Day while dressed as the Statue of Liberty is a bold choice. Bold and extremely Westport.
The river will be fine. The performance art will not age well.
Regarding disguises, thanks for asking. Our original plan was to murder alledged undocumented immigrants in their cars, but decided on taking the attention off of us as individuals and putting the attention on some of the toxic behaviors that appear to have permeated our government. The T was tethered and sat in the water for about 10 seconds. Far less pollution potential than certain government officials continually dump into the pool of decency and civility that we all once trusted as an American standard.
“Original plan was to murder alleged undocumented immigrants in their cars” is a hell of a way to open a comment about civility.
Glad you settled for briefly littering the river instead. Truly the high road. The T was only in the water for 10 seconds, and yet somehow the performance still managed to be more toxic, tiresome, and tone-deaf than anything it was supposedly protesting.
If the goal was to take attention off yourselves and put it on “toxic behaviors,” mission accomplished — just not in the way you think.
Thank you Ryan for being one of the only sane people commenting here. The level of TDS in Westport is at an extreme. And the folks “protesting” seem to be the same gray-haired boomer lunatics who we see on the side of the road protesting whatever this administration does. The “least consequential protest”– absolutely. I would not put it even on the level of really bad performance art. It’s way worse. But Dan is right, be sure to vote– and vote (R). I mean, Democratic candidates– between Talifreako and Abdul El-Hamas are very, very scary indeed.
Protests do not work. Period. All the Vietnam celebrated protests did was get Richard Nixon elected twice as well as with “W” and Iraq. The gays made such great strides so quickly because they went right to the court houses. It also helps to vote. We got Trump Ii because more eligible voters stayed at home than voted! Sort of a cute idea here, however.
Wonderful Dan! Why are these folks not taking the protests to Hartford as well?
For the record, and 100 plus time, I am a Republican and not a Trump supporter, as are most of your neighbors and friends who are registered -R in Westport.
We get the Trump thing, but why the heck are you guys letting your Far Left nut jobs in Hartford continue to wreck havoc on our local zoning laws?
Democrats hold all the “juice” in Hartford. For the past 30 plus years the Democratic Majority has been creating and passing legislation that continues to tax us to Florida, raise our utility rates to the highest in the land, and zone us to urbanization with one size fits all zoning laws.
Where is the fight from from our local Dems? My voice, as well as most registered Republicans goes on deaf ears. State DOT land, why are we not demanding it so we can build affordable housing that is real?
Laws keep getting passed that we as a community simply cannot comply with because we have NO LAND. 8-30g the moratorium point system is a flawed joke – you can never catch up or stay ahead.
I love the passion, and the fact that so many have the time to rally on the protest bridge every week. I know this is important to all of you.
I just wish the protestors could turn some of the passion and fight towards your friends in Hartford who are continuing to wreck havoc our state and town with take it or leave it legislation.
Hartford to Westport should not be ignored. The party in power in Hartford in their own way is a Dictatorship, closed eyes need to start opening up and seeing the light before the lights go out in CT.
Okay folks bring it!
So to help end the reign of the “Far Left nut jobs in Hartford” Westporters should vote for Alma Sarelli and Douglas Ouellette?
Has anyone seen them lately? I know they’re on the ballot.
Is it wrong to ask for proof of life?