Contact
Bonnie Kristian

YAL Director of Communications

bonnie.kristian@yaliberty.org

443.373.3473

Nationwide Debt Protests Catch
Congressional, Media Attention

Young Americans for Liberty's 'Visualize the Debt'
Events Top the Headlines Nationwide

WASHINGTON, DC--A nationwide youth campaign to protest the $14 trillion national debt attracted congressional and media attention this week, as more than 75 college chapters of the group Young Americans for Liberty (YAL) displayed 40-foot-long National Debt Clocks on their campuses.

"Members of Congress and the media are taking notice," said Jeff Frazee, YAL’s Executive Director. "There is a growing youth movement in this country very concerned about our fiscal future, and we are proud to lead the way," he said.

Each taxpayer owes more than $100,000 to pay off this $14 trillion national debt.


Here is a selection of news coverage YAL's 'Visualize the Debt' protests have received thus far:
  • Via KUSI News Sand Diego:
    UC-San Diego Students Call for Awareness of the National Debt
    "
    The national debt is currently at 14-trillion dollars and change and growing by the billions every day. A group of UC San Diego students has found a way for the issue not to be ignored."
     
  • Via WLOX ABC 13:
    National Debt Clock to Be Erected in Gautier
    "Young Americans for Liberty, a student organization at Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College's Jackson County campus, will erect a 40-foot National Debt Clock at the walkway between the LRC building and the Science building....

    After seeing our story on WLOX.com, Congressman [Steven] Palazzo emailed us the following statement:

    'It is refreshing to see college students interested in such a critical issue. Like these students, I recognize that unless serious changes are made, our country may soon be bankrupt,' Palazzo wrote."

  • Via The Utah Statesman:
    Display to Present U.S. National Debt Issue

    "In response to concerns with national debt, the Young Americans for Liberty will put a 40-foot-long display of the approximate amount of national debt on the TSC Patio in hopes that students will realize the severity of the number, which is climbing steadily toward $15 trillion."
     
  • Via JCOnline:
    Campus Group Protests Ballooning National Debt

    "The Purdue chapter of Young Americans for Liberty set up shop on the Purdue Mall Tuesday, asking passersby about the deficit and encouraging them to sign a petition urging U.S. Rep. Todd Rokita, R-Indianapolis, to work on curtailing federal spending."
     
  • Via PolitiFact Georgia:
    Congress Doing Little to Slow Debt, Student Group Says
    "Congress just doesn’t get it. That’s the message from Young Americans for Liberty, a group of college students that is very worried about the growing federal debt, $14 trillion and counting."
     
  • Via GulfLive.com:
    Students Reminded of National Debt at Community College
    "A banner stretched on the walkway between the library and science buildings at Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College presents a simple message -- the national debt is more than $14 trillion. The exact number posted is $14,249,512,315,999.16."
     
  • Via FortWayne.com:
    Students Lead National Protest
    "A student group at Grace College in Winona Lake are joining in a national protest on the size of the national debt....This event is part of a nationwide 'Visualize the Debt' project by Young Americans for Liberty with more than 75 college campuses participating."
     
  • Via The Augusta Chronicle:
    Master the Balancing Act
    "'We want fellow students to know just how big our generation's share of debt is, and that Congress is spending away our future,' Ani DeGroot, Young Americans for Liberty chapter president at the University of Iowa, said in a statement. 'Students stress about paying back their college loans, but they don't realize their portion of the national debt is even bigger.'"
     
  • Via WLOX ABC 13:
    National Debt Clock Shocks College Students
    "'That is insane, that is not good that our debt is that huge,' a student said. This guy had to take a picture because he was so shocked. 'We are going to turn into a third world country if this keeps up,' another student said."
     
  • Via The Journal Gazette:
    Grace Students Join National Protest
    "Students at Grace College in Winona Lake have put up a 'national debt clock.' But they acknowledge it’s already running slow. Their 'clock' consists of permanent markings on seven yard signs reminding passers-by of the $14 trillion national debt."
For more information on YAL's national debt protests, contact Director of Communications Bonnie Kristian at press@yaliberty.org or 443.373.3473.

Young Americans for Liberty is the continuation of Students for Ron Paul and a network of more than 200 chapters nationwide. YAL seeks to recruit, train, educate, and mobilize students on the ideals of individual liberty and the U.S. Constitution. Learn more at yaliberty.org.

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