Boston's Tax Day Tea Party - Where it all began

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In Boston, the people have had enough and are not going to take it anymore.

The gates leading to the front door of the Massachusetts State House were closed tight and padlocked on April 15, 2009 when citizens from Boston once again took direct action to protest what they believe to be over reaching high taxes, including a host of other related issues in a Nationwide protest being called "The Tax Day Tea Party." 

The demonstration is part of a larger grassroots movement against government spending called Taxed Enough Already, or TEA -- giving name to the Tax Day Tea Parties -- and come more than 235 years after the original Boston Tea Party revolt against taxes.

The historical Boston Tea Party was a direct action protest by colonists in Boston against the British government. After officials in Boston refused to return three shiploads of taxed tea to England on December 16, 1773, a group of colonists dressed as indians, boarded the ships after nightfall and destroyed the tea by throwing it into the Boston Harbor.

The grassroots Tax Day Tea Party effort is organized by many online bloggers, groups and coalitions and the result of an accumulation of tax woes that protesters believe have plagued this country for a very long time beginning with the creation of the IRS shortly and the signing of the Federal Reserve Act by President Woodrow Wilson in 1913.

Today's Tea Party in Boston took place on the historic Boston Common, only a short distance from the original Boston Tea Party, in front of the Massachusetts State House which is located along the Freedom Trail in downtown Boston.  Several speakers, including Republican State Senator Bob Hedlund and Chip Faulkner of Citizens for Limited Taxation addressed the crowd beginning at 11am with the main rally concluding around 2:45 and plans to throw tea into Boston Harbor this evening. Hundreds of citizens came out in support of tax reform armed with signs, flyers and some dressed in colonial revolutionary garb as passerby's in cars honked their horns in support.

Many of the speakers offered their opinions and suggestions as to how to best deal with the recession and the government’s role through hand-held bullhorns but because of the size of the crowd, many times the speakers voice became difficult to hear due to inadequate amplificaton by the bullhorn being absorbed by the crowd.

As one demonstrator noted, "The outrage over the recent bailouts and stimulus packages are symptomatic of our nations larger economic problems and have only just begun to fuel the fire that has been burning in the hearts, minds, and pockets of the American Public."

Meanwhile, President Obama seized the opportunity to defend his tax policy Wednesday, saying, "Make no mistake: this tax cut will reach 120 million families and put $120 billion directly into their pockets, and it includes the most American workers ever to get a tax cut. This will boost demand, and save or create over half a million jobs."

In Atlanta, GA, San Antonio, TX as well as hundred of othe cities, thousands more also came out in support of the Tax Day Tea Party.  As a native Bostonion, I was somewhat disappointed at the turnout in Boston, hoping for a much larger turnout similar to Atlanta and San Antonio.  I suppose my anticipation for a much larger crowd stems from a sense of pride, knowing that Boston has always been known for "where it all began" in regards to the Revolutionary War and just assumed more of my fellow Bostonians would have once more lead the way in the present day.

But in consolation, other events such as "End the FED," Small Government Summit" and a rally on the Battle Green in Lexington, Ma in addition to many others are planned as follow up events where citizens are urged to attend and get involved.

The Tea Party protests, in their current form, began in early 2009 when Rick Santelli, the On Air Editor for CNBC, set out on a rant to expose the bankrupt liberal agenda of the White House Administration and Congress. Specifically, the flawed “Stimulus Bill” and pork filled budget.

During Rick’s rant, he called for a “Chicago tea Party” where advocates of the free-market system could join in a protest against out of control government spending.A few days later, grassroots activists and average Joe Americans began organizing what would soon become the Nationwide Chicago Tea Party effort.

On February 27th, an estimated 30,000 Americans took to the street in 40+ cities accross the country in the first nationwide “Tea Party” protest.

Organizers of the February 27th events pledged to continue on with an even bigger and better protest to follow the first. With April 15th being “Tax Day”, it was decided to schedule the second round of Tea Party protests to ride alongside the tax deadline.

And with that, the “Tax Day Tea Party”, the second round of the Nationwide Tea Party protests, spurring a new movement, moved into reality.