Associate Editor

There were rally speeches from the steps from the historic Osceola County Historic Courthouse, hand-held signs, some that read “Don't Tread on Me” and “No Socialism” and even a man dressed as Uncle Sam.

They were all part of Osceola Tax Day Tea Party in downtown Kissimmee, one of many protest rallies held nationwide Thursday, which was the deadline to file income tax forms.

The Tea Party movement, which began in 2009, promotes fiscal responsibility, limited government and free markets, according to an Orlando Tea Party press release. Jason Hoyt, a radio broadcaster on radio station WORL in Orlando, helped organize the event with his “Tea Party Patriots Live” co-hosts Tom Tillison and Barbara Seidenberg.

He said on tax day April 15, 2009, there were more than 800 Tea Party rallies nationwide. This year, there were about 5,000. Helping to organize other rallies in Central Florida, Hoyt, said this was his first time in Osceola County.

“There is an awakening going on,” he said “People are getting off their couches and getting involved in local government.”

Bob Neveu, of St. Cloud, one of many in the crowd, which gathered for the two-hour rally that began at 6 p.m., held a sign with a Thomas Jefferson quote that read, “When the people fear the government you have tyranny, when the government fears the people you have liberty.”

Why did he feel it was necessary to be part of the rally?

“I felt it was necessary because the government is out spending too much,” he said. “If they keep doing what they are doing, our money will be worthless.”

There were informational booths set up promoting local politicians and a station for American for Fair Taxation, a grassroots organization that supports sound economic research and education of citizens and community leaders, according to informational cards.

“It can't be business as usual,” said Tracy Stubbs, who had taken literature from the booth. “People are waking up and realizing. This isn't about party.”

There were shots at President Barack Obama. A vendor that was selling novelty T-shirts had one that read “I’ll keep my guns, my money and my freedom, you can keep the change.”

Obama's platform, when running for president, often referred to the words “hope” and “change.”

Osceola County resident Wiley Jones, dressed in an Uncle Sam outfit, said the movement was more than watching operations in Washington D.C. He held an Osceola County department list of permits and fees, and highlighted some figures that he called, “spending at its worst.”

Currently, there is just too much taxation, regulation, bureaucracy and interference in the lives of the American people, he said.  He said that the U.S. Constitution had lost the intent of the nation's Founding Fathers.

“Just leave us alone,” he said.

During the rally, Hoyt warned the crowd to be wary any Tea Party rally disruptions.

According to media reports, an organization called Crash the Tea Party had planned to infiltrate tax day Tea Party events nationwide. The group launched a Web site, which announced its plans, reports said.

“They are trying to make it (Tea Party) into something that it's not,” Hoyt said of the rally opposition.

As for how many were expected to attend the Osceola event Thursday Hoyt, said it's not his policy to estimate crowd numbers, but said he is always impressed.

“People are getting engaged,” he said.