by Rance Crabtower | July 2, 2014 2:53 PM
Rockford, IL – The Transfat Rockford Group is holding a “Visioning Rally and Eat-in” today in Sinnissippi Park. As of print time, over 11,000 activists, beef enthusiasts, and type 2 diabetics carrying signs and wearing oversized t-shirts reading things such as “BRING PORTILLO’S TO ROCKFORD,” “SEND MY $$$ TO BOSTON” and “NUMMY NUMMY” were at the rally, making it the most attended political event in the history of the Forest City.
“It’s absolutely vital that a Portillo’s location – if not seven or eight – be opened in Rockford,” rally attendee Tammy Bone said between bites of Taco Bell Waffle Taco, “Have you ever tried an Italian beef or hot dog or pile of smothered fries from any of the literally dozens of locally owned establishments in town? Sure, it may be the exact same ingredients prepared in the exact same way, but where’s the fun? Where’s the worldly allure? When I’m swallowing a hot dog buried in slimy onions and dayglow-green relish whole, I want to know that my money is being shipped off to a faux-diner division of a Boston-based restaurant conglomerate! It just FEELS better. It’s exotic… metropolitan, even.”
RKFD News also contacted the office of Rockford Mayor, Larry Morrissey. Unfortunately, we called during one of the Mayor’s mid-morning Visioning Naps and he could not speak with us directly. However, his office did issue the following statement via email after his 11:30am Visioning Nap and before his 1:30:
However, not all rallying to bring a Portillo’s franchise to Rockford would call themselves political activists. For rally attendee Tucker Ruddslave, it’s about something else.
“This ain’t about Visionin’ or politickin.’ This is about food. I’ve lived in Rockford my whole life and all I’ve ever wanted was a place nearby where I could grab a hot dog or an Italian beef sandwich,” the 79 year-old retired machinist paused as he reached up and wiped a single tear from his eye with a wadded McDouble wrapper, “and, frankly, Beef-a-Roo, Zammuto’s and Brooklyn Deli can go suck a dick.”
– Rance Crabtower
Source URL: https://rkfdnews.com/portillos-rally-largest-political-event-in-city-history/
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