TEA time

A crowd of several hundred people gathered at a TEA Party rally in Morehead City.

But sipping beverages and eating crumpets were far from their minds.

The group, which gathered in the parking lot of Parkway Shopping Center, carried American flags and hand-made signs that expressed concerns over big government, big spending, and irresponsible representation.

 "It's my first political protest ever," said 64-year-old Newport resident Carolyn Taylor, who stood along U.S. 70 holding signs for passing motorists to read. She said government is overstepping its bounds.

"My grandchildren are not going to know the United States I grew up in," she said. "Government is taking over. The business of government is to protect the people."

Swansboro Ellen Holcomb's sign read "Earn Our Vote Washington" on one side and "We demand fiscal responsibility from our leaders" on the other.

She wants responsible representatives, she said.

"Representatives are making promises and don't keep them," she said.

Ruth Parker of Newport said she didn't agree with the government bailouts. She's concerned about the impact of the national debt on future generations.  Her sign read "Stop Government Theft."

"I have a grandson who is 5 years old. How is he going to pay all those trillions of dollars?" she said.

Taxed Enough Already protests took place throughout the country and region on Wednesday, April 15, the final day to file federal income tax returns.

In New Bern, about 1,200 showed up for a TEA party that included a three-block march to Union Point Park.

Organizers said the crowd was larger than they had anticipated.

 "The problem with government is they don't believe the silent majority will speak," said Cheryl Switzer of New Bern.

She rounded the corner to booming voices with a contagious chant up East Front Street, "No more pork-ulus. We've had enough."

"We are mad about outrageous spending and Congress passing a bill nobody had even read," said Tracy Fritzsche of New Bern.

She marched carrying her baby, Amalia, in a pouch while pushing her mother, Dorothy Fritzsche, in a wheelchair.

"They are coming out of the rafters and they are ticked off," said Al Coley, a longtime community leader in groups like New Bern Area Chamber of Commerce, Craven County Committee of 100 and assorted volunteer organizations.

Michael Speciale, who has unsuccessfully campaigned for political office at a Republican candidate, led the charge and spoke to the crowd.

"There was a lot of exposure to emphasize that this is a non-partisan event," he said. "Those who have historically opposed taxes are probably going to be more numerous, but there are a lot of people getting upset and ready to get involved.

"State government has spent the $3 billion surplus, $1.5 billion two years in a row. Now we're looking at a $2 billion to $3 billion deficit. We're going to go after both parties."

The event took its name partly from the 1773 Boston Tea Party to protest the English crown's tax on tea and partly based on what signs near the group's booth spelled out: "Taxed Enough Already."