The Richmond Tea Party has accused the mayor of retaliating against them for saying the city unfairly charged it $10,000 for demonstration permits, while Occupy protesters paid nothing for theirs. Following the complaints, the Tea Party was informed it was being audited by the city.

 

“Occupy Richmond believes in absolute free speech, including the right to criticize the government without fear of retribution,” Occupy Richmond said in a statement. “Given the duplicitous and violent manner in which the city government chose to raid our peaceful occupation, it would not surprise us if the recently announced city audit of the Richmond Tea Party were retaliation for their criticism of the mayor.”

 

City leaders say the party’s claims are “baseless,” and that it is being audited because it owes taxes to the city.

–Noel Brinkerhoff

 

Occupy Richmond to Tea Party: We're on Your Side Against City Hall (by Perry Chiaramonte, FoxNews.com)