Tucson Tea Party Makes a Stand Oct. 12, 2009 | AZPM

Story and Photos by Clayton Norman

Armed with signs, petitions, flags, and their voices around 6,000 people descended on Tucson Electric Park Saturday to demonstrate their frustration with President Obama and what they see as government run amok.

“Tucson’s Last Stand”, as Tucson Tea Party organizers called it, reveled in flouting Obama administration policies and ridiculing the president. Attendees touted signs featuring Obama as the Joker, a “twenty-first century golden calf”, a traitor, and a Socialist. Many in the crowd sported shirts reading “You lie!” referring to presidential heckler Senator Joe Wilson’s (R- S.C.) outburst during Obama’s health-care speech in September.

Petitions circulated gaining signatures to recall U.S. Rep. Gabrielle Giffords, D-Ariz., and other Democratic office holders. One called to stop photo radar enforcement. Local immigration control firebrand Roy Warden was seen making his way through the crowd sans bullhorn, and former U.S. Rep. Barry Goldwater Jr. shook hands and signed copies of his new book after addressing attendees from a stage on the infield.

Fox News senior judicial analyst Judge Andrew Napolitano also addressed the crowd reminding them of their second amendment rights.

“The second amendment,” he said. “Gives you the right to shoot at the government when it has been taken over by tyrants!”

This remark drew cheers from the many participants waving flags with the words “come and take it” written on them—usually over an image of a cannon, but in one case emblazoned over a picture of an AR-15 assault rifle.

Trevor Hall, 19, a student at the University of Arizona said he came to the event be around other like-minded conservatives.

“Eventually, I want to be a politician,” said the freshman from Cincinnati, Ohio. “I just wanted to come and discuss some ideas with local conservatives about the issues we’re facing.”