Overpasses for America Group Hits Elmhurst on Anniversary of 9/11

A muted call for impeachment of President Barack Obama has been rumbling through the U.S. Congress for several months. Republican Sen. Tom Coburn (R-OK), for example, has said the president is "perilously close" to meeting that standard, according to a Sept. 6 article in the Huffington Post.

Usually those discussions end up going nowhere. Not all Republicans are in favor of impeachment, and any such measure is highly unlikely to be supported by the Democrat-controlled Senate.

A grassroots movement has been gaining some followers across the country, however. Overpasses for America states on its webpage that it is a "nonpartisan, grassroots movement made up of everyday Americans who understand the value of the U.S. Constitution."

While the group's mantra is "Impeach Obama," its goal is to see the president "held accountable for his many unconstitutional actions."

A local group of these "everyday Americans" hit St. Charles Road over Interstate 290 in Elmhurst Sept. 11, with signs stating: "Impeach Obama" and "Honk." There was a lot of honking—just a few seconds between each—during their rush-hour appearance.

"We're getting a lot of honks, but we're getting a lot of something else over there, too," said one of the protesters, referring to drivers flipping them the bird. "I just smile and wave."

Cindy Casanova of Roselle participates with Overpasses for America several times a month. This was her first time at this overpass, which separates Elmhurst from Berkeley. She said the anniversary of 9/11 has significance for the group.

"That's why we picked this day," she said. 

And another 9/11 anniversary, last year's attack at Benghazi, was mentioned repeatedly by individuals in the group. 

"We want to know what happened in Benghazi. There is a huge coverup," Casanova said.

Another woman named Cathy from Schaumburg, who didn't want to give her last name, agreed.

"The big thing for me is Benghazi," she said. "Ambassador Chris Stevens and the others were real people. He had a family. Imagine how fearful they were and no help came. That, for me, is a hot-button issue."

They also protest against Obamacare, government spending and increasing regulations, and in support of Second Amendment rights.

It is not a Tea Party Group, Casanova said. But Tea Party members, like Mike Hahne from Downers Grove, do participate from time to time. Most of the Overpass people don't know one another before they arrive at their designated spot.

The Overpass events "bring out gun rights groups, anti-abortionists, it brings Libertarians, some regular Republicans. It brings us all together," Hahne said.

Do they expect their efforts will lead to the impeachment of Obama?

"Nobody really expects him to get impeached, but it sends a message that we don't like what he's doing," Hahne said.

Apparently quite a few people agree. As of Sept. 11, the Facebook page for the national group, which launched in July, had more than 49,000 followers; the Illinois group has about 1,500 followers. 

Casanova said some people agree with them but are hesitant or afraid to go public. Nevertheless, the movement is growing, she said. 

"We've got more and more people coming in, and more positive feedback, including local authorities," she said. "We're also making people aware of things they didn't know. We get a lot of honks. We really do."