August 7, 2013 by Cheryl Carpenter Klimek
Photo credit: Richard Hartford, Boca Raton Facebook
It’s hard work being a modern-day patriot. But people all over Florida took that role on Tuesday.
Joe Kilinski of Palm City was up at 3 a.m. and headed to Ocala, where more than 20 people were already in place to wave signs on an overpass during the morning rush-hour traffic. His next stop: West Palm Beach. He didn’t get home until 6 p.m.
The grassroots organization, Overpasses for Obama’s Impeachment, has attracted similar volunteer efforts all over the country, according to their website. The Florida contingency held sign-waving events on overpasses across the state on Tuesday, Kilinksi said. At last count, the cities visited included Boca Raton, Ocala, Port St. Lucie, Naples, West Palm Beach, Orange City, Spring Hill, Kissimmee, Jacksonville and the Tampa/Clearwater/Sarasota area. Orlando had multiple events.
Overpasses for Obama’s Impeachment, with Facebook pages for chapters in all 50 states and
Washington, D.C., gained national attention after a rally in Southern Californiasnagged traffic in early June.
Photo credit: Lisa D’Esposito Minutillo Boca Raton, Facebook
The movement, which is independent of any political party or group, attracts people from all walks of American life. Members of tea party groups have supported and joined the effort.
Kilinski, along with Carol Bush organize the Florida Overpasses group. which has grown from about 600 to over 2,000 members in less than a month.
“I do like a good road trip but I really wanted to show my support for the fantastic job our local organizers are doing,” Kilinski, a father and grandfather, told BizPac Review in an email. “Suzanne Seely Young has been a great local organizer in the Ocala area and she has a very strong following and a great turnout. I plan on doing surprise trips like this throughout the state whenever possible. These people are true patriots and we need to show them the love and respect they deserve.”
Photo credit: Joe Kilinski, in Ocala
Police officers showed up at the Ocala and West Palm Beach locations after complaints, some unfounded, that the signs included offensive language and that the waving distracted drivers, Kilinski said.
“We would like to commend both theOcala and West Palm Beach policedepartments for their professional demeanor in both cases,” Kilinski said. “We make it our rule to never leave a mark where we protested so we pick up all trash, do not bother pedestrian or vehicular traffic and vow to be good neighbors. Although at times we are confronted with racial comments and obscene gestures we only smile and wave in return.”
Photo credit: Mark Hoffman, Spring Hill Facebook
Kilinski has strong motivation for what he does.
“I can no longer stand by and watch our freedoms taken away piece by piece,” Kilinski added. “I have grandchildren and children and this country no longer presents them with a chance to get a good job or to be free to do or say what they want to without government interference. The government is interfering in everything we do but everything they do they lose money at or fail miserably. My children are welcome to go in debt to get a college degree but there is no job for them to pay back their loans. Our country needs a leader.”
Photo credit: Joe Kilinski, in Ocala
