By Jessica L Gaddis Staff Writer jgaddis7@gmail.com

April 15 was Tax Day for all and a day of protest for many. Spurred by frustrations with Obama's stimulus plan, worries of inflation and a greedy government, people of all political affiliations flocked to cities across the nation to protest.

One place of protest was Atlanta's capitol. Many protestors held signs with phrases such as "I am not your ATM" or "stimulus slave." This nationwide protest mirrored the Boston Tea Party of 1773, when Bostonians protested the British tea tax by dumping imported tea into the Boston Harbor. Signs with the phrase "party like it's 1773" served as a reminder of that pivotal moment in history.

According to many media analysts, Facebook groups and related blogs sparked curiosity of this event. Some protestors drove into the Atlanta city center to pay for parking, while thousands more boarded MARTA and glided under rush-hour traffic. Protestors who prepared for large crowds lugged backpacks of snacks, bottled water, and cameras in order to stay somewhat comfortable among the chaos. Streets in front and near the capitol building blocked off traffic, allowing crowds to cluster as close to the building as possible. A large screen was placed in the nearby grass, giving latecomers a high, TV view of the action.

Though many Republicans orchestrated these protests, other party members, as well as Obama supporters, were present. Some bold patrons dressed in colonial attire with tea bags tied to their hat and jacket. Others simply wore red, white and blue, expressing their loyalty to the United States of America and the Constitution. As time wore on, more people arrived and pressed into the throng of chanting Americans and their creative posters. Those experiencing claustrophobia kept a conservative distance, but paid attention to the speakers shown upon the screen.

As dinnertime approached, many protesters meandered into Underground Atlanta for a boost of fried food and drinks. Due to the crowds, service was slow, yet stimulus critics jovially visited with family and friends and discussed current politics.

Upon returning to the site of eager protesters, the atmosphere was more exciting than before. Small tea bags were scattered upon the street, symbolizing the passion shown by ancestors of long ago. Many sign-bearing people declared their personal reasoning for attending the Atlanta Tax Day Tea Party.

"I'm here because I don't want my grandchildren to have to pay for our government's mistakes," said one woman.

"Yeah, I don't like the idea of printing money to save our economy. I feel it'll just raise more problems in the long-run," said another.

Protestors milled back to their vehicles and public transportation sites as darknes fell over the city. The passion of American citizens and knowledge of current events was greatly noted by many. Whether these national "Tea Party" protests had impact on the government's decision or not is left in the hands of the future.

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