Tax protesters stage 'tea party' in Forest Grove
Those opposed to federal spending policies demonstrate their displeasure on the day their taxes are due
Chase Allgood / News-Times
Robert Reece (holding flag) organized the tax day protest in Forest Grove when he couldn't find one in the area. He said he was amazed by the turnout. "All I did was light the fuse," said Reece, a retired school teacher.
More than 60 boisterous and upbeat residents of western Washington County converged on Forest Grove Wednesday to voice their displeasure over the nation's tax policy.
The afternoon "Tax Day Tea Party" was part of a national effort to draw attention to the spike in federal spending.The event in Forest Grove, which was held at the intersection of Cedar Street and Pacific Avenue, was one of 22 held in Oregon. Organizers chose the deadline for filing taxes to make a protest, which they likened to the famous actions of American colonists who tossed tea into Boston harbor to protest high tariffs by the British government.
Robert Reece, a retired Forest Grove public school teacher, said he organized the local protest after looking for a protest site and finding none on this end of the county (there was a protest in Beaverton).
After posting the time and location on a website (oregonteaparties.com) he received a few encouraging emails. He expected maybe a dozen people to show up and was floored by the turnout.
"Look at this," he said pointing to the sign-waving throng, which was getting lots of encouragement from passing motorists. "The response is amazing. All I did was light the fuse."
Reece said that as a former public employee he sees a role for government -- but a limited one. He said the stimulus spending in Washington will do little to help small businesses, which he said are the key to economic recovery.