They played the Beatles’ “Revolution.” People would drive by, honking, and would hear the Beatles. At 12:30 on a recent Saturday, about 200 people gathered around Pasadena City Hall in California protesting our political leaders’ harsh and unfair tax solution. Specifically at this tea party, people were protesting California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger supporting higher taxes for Californians and Congress's wasteful spending at the federal level. They also wanted to repeal Proposition 1A, which passed in November 2008. It allows California officials to use taxpayers' money to partially build a $40 billion high speed train to be completed in 2030.
A tea party is a group of people protesting what the government is doing with our money. There are tea parties all around the country. It is a grassroots thing, rather than organized by one entity. The most famous tea party took place on December 16, 1773 where the colonists protested the Tea Act. However, that tea party was illegal. The current tea parties aren't.
The crowds grew as the day progressed. It turned out to be a family event, with little kids holding signs that said “Taxifornia.” There were even a couple of dogs. Police were present, but didn’t do anything.
The Pasadena Tea Party, as they call themselves, organized this tea party. (There have been many others throughout the country.) They communicate through Facebook and email. They got many guest speakers, including:
- Chuck DeVore (candidate for the US Senate in 2010, currently serving in the California State Assembly)
- John Ziegler (well-known documentary filmmaker and former KFI talk show host)
- Basil Hoffman (master of ceremonies and screen actor/author)
- Brian Fuller (candidate for California State Assembly in the 44th district)*
- Pia Varma (associated with PopModal, the conservative alternative to YouTube)
- Alvaro Day (candidate for the California State Assembly)
- Teresa Hernandez (running for the 32nd district in the House of Representatives)
Article comments
1 - EVe
Only ONE report on the Pasadena Tea Party?
It had some nifty signs, all home made, and quite a few about Obmamas borrow/spend policy;
2 - Ruvy
When are you all going to start throwing dollars into toilet paper parties? It's going to be the coming thing in America. Thew other is going to be how to pronounce Y-Ü-A-N with the proper intonations, so as not to make fools of yourselves when talking to Chinese people....
3 - Dr Dreadful
So Ruvy, should I invest my Yuan in a wheelbarrow-manufacturing company or two?
4 - Joanne Huspek
Wait til the 15th, when there will be tea parties en-masse. If I can get away, I'm going...
5 - RJ
Nice article. Keep up the good work.
6 - Dave Nalle
If I could use it as an excuse not to do my taxes I'd spend all day at a tea party too.
Dave
7 - CJ Green
So where do I go to either read about any more actions planned here in Pasadena? I drove all the way to Westwood to attend a rally at the Federal Building on the 11th!
Is there going to be another Tea Party tomorrow on tax day or am I going to have to drive to Van Nuys as I was planning?
Thanks in advance.
Best,
CJ
8 - Cindy
CJ,
Here you go. TaxDayTeaParty.Com
Boy, you right wing protesters really need all the help you can get don't you? Guess when you don't protest for 200 years or so you get out of practice.
9 - Robert M. Barga
wow, what a waste of time and effort. Tea parties are useless, and most devolved into an attack on anything left
10 - roger nowosielski
Keep your innocence, Maddy, in spite of partisan comments.