Editor, Gazette-Journal:

In light of the NAACP’s recent allegations of racist elements within the TEA Party, I feel I must protest and set the record straight. I am a member of a local TEA Party group, and we call ourselves Peninsula Patriots. We are not racists, and we are not aligned with any political party. We welcome members of all races, colors, creeds, etc.

We are alarmed about the apparent socialist agenda of our current government, and we are making a stand for our Constitution, our country and our rights. We find it ironic and disturbing in the extreme that our country spent over 60 years fighting against socialism and communism, only to embrace it today.

The name TEA Party has its roots in the protest by patriots who lived before us against unfair taxes. Perhaps you remember learning about the Boston Tea Party during history class. Today, TEA is an acronym for Taxed Enough Already. What we do: work for candidates who honor their oath to defend the United States Constitution; demand our representatives to read all bills and make them available to us for 30 days before a vote; recognize that our freedoms come from our Maker and not government; ask questions of elected officials; emphasize that the government works for us—we do not work for them; tell the truth; promote peace through strength.

Before passing judgment on us, please take the time to learn more about us yourself. Our website is http://www.meetup.com/peninsula-patriots

Patricia H. Miles

Mathews, Va.