Political activism growing- Many grassroots groups are gaining momentum locally
by Amanda McElfresh - The Daily Advertiser (excerpt)

There's a growing movement in Acadiana, one that's being shaped at the most grassroots level by ordinary citizens gathering in parks, libraries, businesses and elsewhere to share their beliefs and possibly influence elected leaders.

One of the most visible groups in recent months has been the Acadiana Tea Party, one of dozens of Tea Party organizations around the country. Since the spring, the group has hosted several rallies, including an April 15 one on taxation, a July 4 Freedom Rally and one last month to protest proposed changes to the national health care system, among others. They've also held meetings to spark community dialogue, the most recent of which attracted more than 200 attendees who listened to panelists speak on banking legislation, health care reform and cap-and-trade issues.

"These are just normal people. There's not any big organization connected to it. It's just people like myself who don't like what we are seeing right now," said Acadiana Tea Party member Casey Fowler, who traveled with his 18-year-old daughter to Washington D.C. this week to join a march against proposed federal law changes.