Timeline of Tea Party protests
The Timeline of Tea Party protests is a chronological list of organized Tea Party protests events led by volunteers, activists, and Political action committees across the United States. Tax Day and Tea Party events were promoted on blogs, Twitter, Fox News Channel, Political Action committee websites, and Facebook. The events were partially in protest against President Barack Obama, U.S. tax policies and government spending,. Some of the demands included reducing the business tax rate, abolishing taxes on capital gains, abolishing the estate tax in the United States, abolishing the Federal Reserve, and moving to a balanced budget.
History of organized protests
On February 10, Mary Rakovich led a protest outside President Barack Obama's town hall meeting in Fort Myers, Florida. This was the first known protest against the stimulus bill in the country. Mary appeared on Fox News' Neil Cavuto show to explain her reasons for protesting. This event was followed by another organized protest in Seattle, Washington on February 16th, the day before the stimulus bill was signed into law. February 27th marked the next major date as the people of St. Louis showed their disapproval by dumping tea into the Mississippi River. The day also marked protests in Nashville, Tampa, Omaha, Denver, Lansing, Fort Worth, Texas, and right outside the White House in Washington, D.C.. The last tea party to occur in February was held the next day in San Diego and was organized as part of the "Nationwide Chicago Tea Party" to protest the stimulus package.
March saw another wave of protests as Salt Lake City, Tulsa, and Oklahoma City all saw demonstrations on March 6th, with another in Harrisburg the next day. The protest in Harrisburg marked one of the few protests condemning both parties. The Ides of March saw the next rally as Cincinnati voiced it's unhappiness with the national government's programs. Two subsequent protests occurred on the 21st and 22nd in Raleigh and Orlando respectively with the latter introducing the "American Tea Party Anthem" which has since been adopted by other protest groups.
The month of April opened up a tea party organized by FreedomWorks Foundation, located at Jaycee Park, Cape Coral, Florida. On April 2nd, a gathering in Scottsdale, Arizona and heard Barry Goldwater Jr. speak. The first reported college protest occurred in colonial fashion just 9 days later on April 11th at The College of William and Mary, Williamsburg, Virginia. Four days later, April 15th, marked the first nationwide Tea party as people gathered for Tax Day in over 750 cities across the US to protest.
Following Tax Day, local Tea Party protests continued in White Plains, New York on April 24, rallying against high property taxes and county government, even calling for its elimination. Protesters showed their disapproval by dumping 20,000 teabags on the sidewalk. On the same day, hundreds of locals from across West Tennessee gathered at the West Tennessee Tea Party Freedom Celebration.
On May 4, Tea Party protesters in Knoxville organized a local event, flooding the office of the County Tax Assessor to protest rising assessments for houses whose value is falling.
Date |
Location |
Event |
|---|---|---|
February 10 |
Obama townhall meeting, Harborside Event Center, Fort Myers, Florida |
A scarcely organized event consisting of only a few people, the small protest outside the Obama townhall meeting marks the first known anti-spending protest. |
February 16 |
Westlake Park, Seattle, Washington |
The very first organized anti-spending protest happened in Seattle on February 16, 2009, organized by Liberty Belle. |
February 27 |
East steps of the capitol, Denver, Colorado |
Tea Party organized by Brian Thomas Campbell, Sr., addressed by Jenny Hatch, a libertarian from the Home Rule Municipality of Louisville, who read from Atlas Shrugged and made a speech promoting self-sufficiency. |
February 27 |
Outside state capitol, Nashville, Tennessee |
Nashville Tea Party to protest the stimulus spending. |
February 27 |
Gateway Arch, St. Louis, Missouri |
Protesters threw tea bags into the Mississippi and heard speeches including one by local pro-Football Hall-of-Famer Jackie Smith. |
February 27 |
Steps of the Federal courthouse, Tampa, Florida |
Tampa Tea Party against stimulus spending organized by Tampa-based consultant, John Hendricks. |
February 27 |
Hall of Justice, Omaha, Nebraska |
Tea Party organized by David West, Northwest Regional organizer of the dontGo movement and addressed by Pete Ricketts, former Ameritrade executive and former candidate for the Senate. |
February 27 |
The White House, Washington, D.C. |
Tea Party addressed by Michelle Malkin outside the White House. |
February 27 |
State Capitol, Lansing, Michigan |
Tea Party organized by Americans for Prosperity. |
February 27 |
Camp Bowie West Boulevard, Fort Worth, Texas |
Tea Party protesting the stimulus, organized by Mark Frimmel, a local resident inspired by Rick Santelli. |
February 28 |
Harbor Drive, San Diego, California |
San Diego Tea Party, "organized as part of the nationwide Chicago Tea Party" to protest stimulus spending plans. |
March 5 |
Main Plaza, New Braunfels, Texas |
Texas Tea Party. Protest against the Obama stimulus, organized by the Comal County Republican Party. |
March 6 |
Capitol Hill, Salt Lake City, Utah |
Salt Lake Tea Party, anti-stimulus protest organized by David Kirkham, a small business owner based in Provo. |
March 6 |
Veterans Park, Tulsa, OklahomaState Capitol, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma |
Taxpayer’s Tea Party Rally organized in Tulsa by Jay Blevins, addressed by State senator Randy Brogdon. A similar rally was reported in Oklahoma City. |
March 7 |
Steps of the Capitol, Harrisburg, Pennsylvania |
Harrisburg Tea Party organized by the Harrisburg-based Commonwealth Foundation and two local radio hosts. Speakers denounced politicians of both parties. |
March 8 |
Kanaha Park, Kahului, Hawaii |
Maui Tea Party and Obama Keep Your Change Rally. First Hawaii tea party. Organized by Marc Hodges to communicate the "No New Taxes" message to Hawaii gubernatorial candidate Neil Abercrombie who was at the location to announce his candidacy. |
March 12 |
Flat Branch Park, Columbia, Missouri |
Tea Party to protest the Stimulus Bill, addressed by former state Representative Ed Robb (R, 24th District) and, by phone, Lt. Governor Peter Kinder. A local talk radio host from KSSZ closed the ceremony by dropping tea bags into the creek. |
March 13 |
Downtown Monroe, Monroe, Washington |
Monroe Tea Party organized by a local business woman, Julie Martinoli. |
March 15 |
Fountain Square, Cincinnati, Ohio |
Tea Party on the Square hosted by Cincinnati Tea Party, with a number of speakers, including 550 AM’s Brian Thomas and Cincinnati Council member Chris Monzel. |
March 21 |
Outside State Capitol, Raleigh, North Carolina |
The New American Tea Party organized by Daniel Martinez to protest "taxes, corporate bailouts and all manner of federal and state spending". |
March 22 |
Lake Eola Park, Orlando, Florida |
Talk radio host Bud Hedinger presided over a Tea Party in Florida. In addition to the event's speakers, Lloyd Marcus, a Florida-based singer and Political activist premiered an "American Tea Party Anthem"; it was subsequently performed at other protests and played widely on the radio and online. |
April 1 |
Jaycee Park, Cape Coral, Florida |
Cape Coral tea party organized by FreedomWorks Foundation, protesting against Obama's policies, addressed by a handful of speakers including Lloyd Duhon, a local businessman. |
April 2 |
W Hotel, Scottsdale, Arizona |
Members of the Arizona-based networking group Republican Professionals gathered to protest public spending. They were addressed by a number of speakers including Barry Goldwater, Jr. |
April 11 |
Roberto Clemente Bridge, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania |
Tea party addressed by Alan Keyes, threw tea bags into the Allegheny. |
April 11 |
The College of William and Mary, Williamsburg, Virginia |
Around 300 people attended the Colonial Area Tea Party to protest taxation and government spending, addressed by Rep. Rob Wittman and others. Hosted by the College Republicans at William and Mary. |
April 11 |
Yakima, Washington |
Tea party protesting bailouts. Loudspeakers blasted out "We're mad as hell and we're not going to take it any more" and some wore teabags as earrings. |
April 15 |
Nationwide, United States |
Approximately 750 Tax Day Tea Parties occurred in cities across the United States. |
April 24 |
County offices, Westchester County, White Plains, New York |
Hundreds of people from across Westchester County gathered Friday afternoon in front of county offices to protest against high property taxes and county government; in turn, dumping 20,000 teabags on the sidewalk. |
April 24 |
Liberty Garden, Jackson, Tennessee |
Hundreds of people from across West Tennessee gathered at Liberty Garden to celebrate freedom and liberty, with an emphasis on honoring our military service members; and to promote a return to the Constitution and the Christian values that they say America was founded on. |
April 25 |
Lake Tye Park, Monroe, Washington |
More than 200 people gathered by the lake Saturday afternoon to protest government spending as part of the national Tea Party movement. |
May 4 |
Knoxville, Tennessee |
Tea Party protesters in Knoxville organized a local event, flooding the office of the County Tax Assessor to protest rising assessments for houses whose value is falling. |
July 4 |
Nationwide, United States |
Tea Parties are planned in commemoration of Independence Day, including a large number sponsored by organizations such as the Christian lobbying group the American Family Association. |
September 12 |
Washington, D.C. |
Organizers plan a march on Washington, using the Washington D.C. public metro system. |
See also
- Tea Party protests