Tea Partiers protest in Utah

SALT LAKE CITY -- The Tea Party Express made its last stop in Washington, D.C., Thursday, but protesters ensured the message is also heard here in Utah.

Tea Party activists took to the streets, bringing their anti-tax movement on this tax day to the capitol city they love to hate.

Protesters warned against what they call a "gangster government" that takes too much and spends too much.

The Washington rally was the centerpiece of hundreds of other demonstrations coast to coast. There are passionate people taking part in tea parties in Utah today, too.

The rallies are peaceful, but carry the same strong message as those around the nation. These are anti-tax, anti-spending, anti-big government rallies: people angry and frustrated on this tax day, 2010.

Taxes are a big concern for the Tea Partiers on this tax day. One speaker at the federal building rally yelled to the crowd, "Do you want a sales tax?" They shouted back, "NO!"

The rallies reflect simmering discontent with the federal government -- less about taxes, more about how spending and social programs are wrecking the American way of life.

Protester Mike Gilleese said, "Our freedoms are being taken away every day, and I don't know why these people think the federal government is going to do them any favors."

"I am really, really worried, and I'm mad," Lynn Merrill said. "I think they kind of dissed us in Washington. They don't really understand that we are afraid of all this debt."

Signs make a strong statement at these rallies; a plea to whomever will listen from people who don't think anyone is listening.

One man held a sign saying, "Honk if you don't like the word trillions." June Willis had a sign saying "We need jobs."

"We've gone far astray from what the forefathers designed," she said. Willis attended last year's Tea Party rally on tax day as well.

Related

An Important Day for The Tea Party

Organizers of tax-day tea parties are preparing for their biggest day of the year Thursday, as thousands of demonstrators participate in local rallies against high taxes and big government spending.

One man spoke out dressed as a grim reaper.

"Nobody's listening to the people. Nobody's listening. Nobody in government cares," John Lineback said.

There is a political dynamic here, too. It was also a message to those up for re-election this year: People are definitely unhappy, and they're looking for something new.

These sentiments spell trouble in particular for Sen. Bob Bennett. Many of his opponents attended the rallies, turning them into a bit of a campaign event. There were signs, balloons, handouts and speeches. The crowd is attentive to what the candidates are saying, and it's clear the race is hot.

Other candidates were at the events, offering themselves as an alternative to the status-quo.

But right now, some conservatives -- like Rep. Carl Wimmer, R-Herriman -- feel safe.

"It is not a time to be middle-of-the-road moderate," Wimmer said. "You need to know what your principles are and stand up for those principles."

Wimmer seemed to have a more positive feeling toward the rallies as many politicians under fire. "It's the people, the citizens being heard," he said. "Instead of being talked to, they are the ones doing the talking."

Around noon, the rally moved from the Bennett Federal building downtown up State Street to the grounds of the State Capitol. There, an even larger crowd gathered. Still a feeling of more worry -- and more anger -- against government status quo was there.

"We don't need people in office who are just there to make deals," said protester Chirley Rodriguez. "We need people that are idealistic, who believe in the Constitution, who believe in the people."

The rallies were peaceful. There was an announcement, urging the crowd to stay civil and that happened. But the emotion was no less strong.

------

Story compiled with contributions from Richard Piatt and Mary Richards.

Related topics