Protestors, both old and young alike, utilized their constitutional right to free speech and let their voices be heard

Quincy, IL -- It's one of the most famous protests in American history.

On December 16, 1773, a group of Boston colonists angry over the British Parliament's tax policies and the British East India Co.'s tea monopoly, raided ships and dumped their tea shipments into the harbor.

236 years later, Quincy's riverfront was the site for a symbolic re-enactment of that well known protest on taxation, company bailouts, uncontrolled government spending and control by a far-away government.

In reminiscence of the Boston Tea Partly of 1773, hundreds of people from across the Tri-states gathered in Clat Adams Park protesting the massive federal spending in bailout projects and stimulus plans.

"This is their opportunity to come down and say you know what, stop the spending we've all got children we've got grandchildren and we wanna' make sure that they have a future country that they can be proud of, and that we can be proud of for them," said Steve McQueen, co-organizer.

Protestors, both old and young alike, utilized their constitutional right to free speech and let their voices be heard.

They stood up to let the world know they are the "Silent Majority, No More."

"I hope all the people today will see they're not alone in this feeling. I think that's what brings about a lot of apathy what can I do? I can't do anything! It's just me! I'm the only one that doesn't like this situation!" said Greg Myer, protestor.

Protestors brought homemade signs, lawn chairs, American Flags and of course tea bags to dump into the Mississippi River.

Justen Arnold asked, "What do you think about today's response?"

"I think it's unbelievable, I look out there from the stage up there and see all those signs and I see people doing what American's are suppose to be doing and they're suppose to be out saying you know what we just don't agree with this, this is a government that's suppose to be govern by the people for the people," said McQueen.

Event organizers say this was a chance for everyone concerned about how their tax dollars are being spent to speak out.

Those who came out said hope area legislators will listen to their cries and stop spending money they say the country doesn't have, before their children and grandchildren pay in the future for their past.

"I'm sick of seeing what's happening to our country I don't like the way the president and the governor of the state are taxing us to death and wasting our money, they're just running our country into the whole, turning us into what I see as a socialist like economy that's not what America is that's not what America stands for," said Myer.

"This is not a democrat issue it is not a republican issue this is an American issue, this is what all Americans need to be looking at and what we have here today is some true patriots," said McQueen.

Organizers say they hope to have more events in the near future.

For more information go to www.quincyteaparty.com

Similar tea parties were held in Burlington and Fort Madison, Iowa today.

But instead of tea, those protesters threw catfish.

More than 1500 cities across the country will take part in a nationwide tea party protest on April 15th.