Issue date: 4/16/09 Section: Campus News

Media Credit: Abby Harvey Demonstrators gather Wednesday at a "TEA Party" in front of Eau Claire City Hall. These "TEA Parties" are taking place all over the nation to protest high taxes.

The Boston Tea Party is a well-known part of the American Revolution, where citizens spoke out against taxation without representation. Hundreds of protesters met on the lawn Wednesday outside of Eau Claire City Hall, 203 S. Farwell St., to voice their concerns about federal spending policies - a modern-day tea party.

The group, the Eau Claire TEA party (Taxed Enough Already) was only one of many protesting across the nation on Tax Day, the last day to file income tax returns without penalty.

About a dozen speakers criticized the federal government. Many in the crowd held signs with sayings such as "Stop the Socialism" and "Change? That's all I have left in my pocket. No More Taxes."

Logan Nugent, new Eau Claire resident and student at Chippewa Valley Technical College, said the protest was about fighting for a constitutional government.

"I am in disbelief the way the constitution … has been perverted by our iniquitous leaders," he said. "Today we take America back."

Community member Jeff Peterson said the protest wasn't affiliated with any political party, but rather worked to limit all government spending and raise awareness for the need for true money in the economy.

"Democrat administration, Republican administration … the madness (in government spending) never stops," he said.

The protest, he added, wasn't anti-government or anti- President Obama, either. Limiting government spending is pro-freedom and pro-individual responsibility, he said, to an applauding crowd.

Regis High School juniors Alex Taft and Vini Phillips left school to attend the protest because they said they feel disadvantaged as youth in today's economy and in light of current federal spending policies.

"It's easy to be radical (politically) when you're established," Phillips said.

Taft agreed.

"How are we supposed to make a spot for ourselves in America today?" he said.

Many called the protest the beginnings of a grassroots movement. Randy Stofferahn urged the crowd to contact elected officials and continue the day's protest.

Tea party protests began in Chicago in early 2009 after the passing of the stimulus bill, according to the Tax Day Tea Party national Web site.

Other tea party protests in the state were held in Appleton, Fort Atkinson, Fond Du Lac, La Crosse, Madison and Wausau. Testimonials from the Eau Claire TEA party protest will be posted on YouTube.

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