Chicago's Tea Party

Updated 9:55 AM CST, Thu, Apr 16, 2009

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Hundreds of people have gathered in downtown Chicago on the day income tax filings are due to protest and rally against what they called excessive government spending since President Barack Obama took office in January.

Protestors on Wednesday chanted "USA! USA! USA!" as speakers talked about high taxes and government bailouts.

The rallies are modeled after the Boston Tea Party of Dec. 13, 1773.

Ronald Boetto said he drove about 75 miles from Marseilles in LaSalle County to downtown Chicago to show his support. He saidhe thinks

"What made this country great is capitalism and we're moving away from that direction," Boetto said.

In Naperville, some 500 people gathered outside the Naperville Municipal Center, the Chicago Tribune reported.

In Springfield, nearly 400 protesters gathered outside the Illinois State Capitol demanding government change the way it
spends their money.

Protesters waved picket signs saying they were "tea'd off" and liberty was "all the stimulus we need." Some carried large yellow flags saying "Unite or Die," made famous in the 1700's before the American Revolution.

The Chicago rally was one of many planned across the country and promoted by FreedomWorks, a conservative nonprofit advocacy group based in Washington.

http://www.teapartyday.com/

Radio station WVON said a "tea party townhall" meeting will be held Wednesday evening.

The meeting, hosted by WVON's Charles Butler, will be held in the station's Legacy Center, at 1000 East 87th Street, beginning at 5 p.m.

In attendence will be the Chairman of the National Republican Committee Michael Steele, the chairman of The New Coalition for Economic and Social Change, Lee Walker, and other officials from the Republican Party. Steel is also expected to speak.

WVON said that seating for the Southside Tea Party is on a first-come, first-serve basis. Attendees are encouraged to RSVP by calling 773-247-6200 x462. There will be no admittance for those who do not RSVP.

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