High taxes and runaway federal government spending promptedseveral area residents to join a grassroots effort to protest onthe steps of the Mississippi Capitol Wednesday.

The rally was one of several held nationwide in support of TaxedEnough Already, or TEA – giving name to the Tax Day Tea Parties.Similar rallies in Mississippi were held in Natchez, Hattiesburg,Tupelo and Greenwood.

“There was quite a large crowd of people,” said Wesson’s JimHampton. “Many in the crowd held homemade signs addressing thestimulus package and other out of control spending.”

Susan Jones, a Brookhaven native now living in Madison, said sheattended the rally because people – regardless of their politicalaffiliation – need to stand up for what they believe in and she wasupset about government spending policies.

“”It was a really inspiring day,” she said. “The speakers werevery motivating and you could tell the people were ready forchange.”

Although counter-protestors were evident in much smaller numbersat rallies across the United States, Hampton said they were notvisible in Jackson.

“I did not notice a single one,” he said. “This seemed to be avery determined group of people who seemed to be fed up.”

Hampton said he was an early supporter of the tea partyeffort.

“I have long been a staunch advocate of culling back at thefederal level and putting more in the laps of the localgovernment,” he said.

While unable to attend in person, other local residents werepresent in Jackson in spirit.

Mike Martin, of Bogue Chitto, was unable to attend because the 4p.m. rally conflicted with his services at Mount Pleasant BaptistChurch, where he serves as pastor. He had attempted to organize aBrookhaven rally at noon so he could participate.

“We weren’t real successful this time because I had computerproblems and could not get it organized,” he said. “We were goingto try to get one organized here and maybe in McComb.”

Martin said his goal was to make the federal government awarethat people were “not happy with the high tax and spend policy. Idon’t want to shackle my children, grandchildren andgreat-grandchildren with a tax that doesn’t need to be.”

Both Hampton and Martin said the rallies were a nonpartisan,grassroots effort.

“I think initially it will raise some eyebrows inside theBeltway,” Hampton said. “I think the momentum will pick up and notslow down.”

Martin said he expects to be more successful in organizingrallies here for future events.

“I think more people will get involved in it,” he said. “I thinkas a result of the numbers of people involved already it will growlouder and louder until eventually the government hears us.”

Brookhaven’s Suzanne Britt was unable to attend, but she joinedother locals who could not make the trip to Jackson in a relatedTEA effort to express their displeasure at excessive governmentspending.

“I sent about 50 tea bags to the White House,” she said. “I knowseveral hundred were sent from (Brookhaven).”

The organization hopes to swamp the White House with at least 1million tea bags.

Wednesday’s rallies came 235 years after the original Boston TeaParty revolt against taxes, which spurred Americans to rejectBritish tyranny.