April 15, 2009 – PEORIA, Ill.  –  Populism was back in style. “Over 500” gathered in downtown Peoria for a rally against taxes. Well, against government spending to be more exact… but you could find a hundred different reasons why people were missing a few hours of work on a brilliant spring day. The signs said it all: “What would Jefferson do?,” “Bailouts tea me off,” “Save trees, stop printing money,” and the somewhat off-message “Liberty says NO to Big Brother.” It was a cornucopia of dissent, with the financially worried walking hand in hand with the anti-Federalists. A tax day tea party.

The multitude gathered near the public library, with the leader addressing the crowd about their intent. A message was decided, although this splintered once marching commenced into chants of “U.S.A.!” and “No more taxes!” This was obviously incorrect, and a small portion of the group noticed and chuckled, trying to correct the error with their own: “No more spending!” Anti-Obama messages were few, surprisingly, with “Obamunism” being the most common.

Peaking in front of the Peoria County Courthouse, the leader bellowed through a megaphone: “The answer to 2009… is 1776!” Fists pumped in the air, Courthouse security stood by nervously, and it was officially a block party.

There was plenty to look at, but I kept looking at one unique sign, carried by a middle-aged man who didn’t stay around long to talk with me. “Atlas will shrug,” said the lettering on his foam board sign. In competition with such beautiful weather (and a hunger for lunch), it seems like Peoria was doing the same.

* I say “over 500” because the accounts varied widely. Police said several hundred, while the Journal Star thought there a few more. Event organizers and attendees were optimistic at “several thousand.”

The Journal Star article
“Here Come the Plastic Pitchforks” by Thomas Frank at the WSJ