WRIC Richmond News and Weather - Anti-Tax Protesters Holding "Tea Party"
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Thousands of people are marking tax day with "tea party" protests across the country. The tea parties were promoted by a conservative nonprofit advocacy group based in Washington and led by former Republican House Majority Leader Dick Armey, now a lobbyist. In Washington, President Barack Obama has been discussing a plan to simplify the U.S. tax code.
WASHINGTON (AP) - The Secret Service says a suspicious package thrown over the fence and onto the White House's North Lawn was not dangerous.
Tax protesters threw what appeared to be a box of tea bags toward the White House on Wednesday, prompting officials to lockdown the compound.
The Secret Service also used a robot to inspect the package thrown in an apparent act of defiance meant to echo the rebellion of the Boston Tea Party.
Demonstrators said they disapproved of government spending since President Barack Obama took office.
They organized protests across the country, including outside the White House.
WASHINGTON (AP) - More than 500 protesters are rallying in Washington to criticize the Obama administration's economic policies as part of tax day protests across the country.
Demonstrators wearing Uncle Sam costumes and colonial tri-cornered hats waved signs reading "I believe in capitalism," and "Taxed enough already" on Wednesday at a park across the street from the White House.
Organizer Rebecca Wales says protesters are upset over what they consider excess government spending in the stimulus bill.
Later Wednesday, leaders from activist groups and former presidential candidate Alan Keyes are scheduled to speak.
The "tea party" rally is Washington is one of many happening nationwide Wednesday. They are modeled on the Boston Tea Party staged by American colonists against British taxes in 1773.
(Copyright 2009 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)
