Washington, DC (AHN) - Protesters gathered at state capitals and in neighborhoods around the country on Wednesday to kick off a series of tax-day protests in the vein of the Boston Tea Party. Demonstrators angered over government spending since President Barack Obama took office held rallies everywhere from Kentucky and South Carolina to California and New York. In Atlanta, thousands of people were expected to gather on the steps of Georgia's Capitol, where conservative Fox News pundit Sean Hannity was set to broadcast his show Wednesday night after promoting the event throughout the week.
The tea parties have also been promoted by FreedomWorks, a conservative nonprofit advocacy group led by former Republican House Majority Leader Dick Armey of Texas.
In Hartford, Connecticut, police estimated about 3,000 people showed up at the state Capitol, many carrying pitchforks and signs blasting the Democrats who control Congress and the White House.
Former Republican House Speaker Newt Gingrich planned to address a tea party in New York City on Wednesday night, with his advocacy group, americansolutions.com, partnering with tea party organizers to promote the gatherings across the country.
Organizers say the grassroots movement has developed organically through online social networking sites like Facebook and Twitter and through national exposure on channels like Fox News.
Although most insist it's a nonpartisan effort, the tea parties have been seized on by many prominent Republicans who view it as a way to shore up Republican momentum lost after the election which saw Democrats take both Congress and the White House.
Likely 2012 GOP presidential hopefuls South Carolina Gov. Mark Sanford planned to attend tea parties in Columbia and Charleston and Louisiana Gov. Bobby Jindal sent e-mails to supporters, letting them know about tea parties taking place throughout the state.