Photos by Sam Dean | The Roanoke Times

The Wednesday gathering in Roanoke served as a forum for those dissatisfied with the first three months of the new presidential administration.

Tea bags were collected to be sent to government officials. Below right: Protesters sign a letter to Virginia officials.

Protesters sign a letter to Virginia officials.

Children (from left) Sophia Kelley, 8; Bill Achino, 12; and Tori McIlhany, 13; joined their parents at River's Edge Park in Roanoke for a protest that coincided with tax day.

During a symbolic "tea party" in Roanoke, hundreds of people protest taxes and the spending policies of the Obama administration.

Editor's note: This story has been updated to reflect the remarks state Sen. Ralph Smith made to the crowd during Wednesday's rally.

As the hours of Wednesday afternoon dwindled and the midnight tax deadline drew nearer, a crowd of several hundred people turned out at River's Edge Park in Roanoke for a "tea party."

The gathering, largely organized by Sharon Nicely of Roanoke and Elena DeRosa of Roanoke County, was one of at least a dozen "Tax Day Tea Party" events that sprang up around Virginia and countless other places around the country.

Although Nicely and DeRosa said they got involved as a way to protest the federal government's response to the economic recession, earlier this month DeRosa said the party itself would not be political in nature.

The event, however, clearly served as a forum for those dissatisfied with the first three months of the new presidential administration.

Hand-painted signs were used to rail against President Obama, Virginia's new tobacco tax, the recently passed $787 billion economic stimulus package, socialism, fascism, gun control, abortion and other issues. Speakers took turns addressing the crowd through a megaphone.

"I don't have the luxury of a teleprompter," DeRosa joked as she used the bullhorn to welcome a tightly packed crowd that swelled from the park footbridge up the greenway paths in both directions.

"For the first time in my life, I'm proud of Roanoke," she said, then added, "I've always been proud of Roanoke and America," and reminded listeners that government representatives "are working for us and the least they can do is read a bill before they sign it."

Other speakers eventually brought more divisive topics to the megaphone.

"We did not invite anyone, but they showed up," DeRosa said later of the range of subjects addressed.

"Everybody's liking what they have to say, so I don't have a problem," Nicely added.

Lee Carter, one of the event's organizers, took the podium and contrasted the speeches of Abraham Lincoln against the abortion policies of the Obama administration.

"As a nation, we began by declaring that 'all men are created equal,' " Carter said. "We now practically read it, 'all men are created equal except fetuses.' When the liberals get control, it will read 'all men are created equal except fetuses and elderly and those with birth defects.'

"It is impossible for Barack Obama to love America when he spends your money to kill babies," he added.

"I'm definitely afraid for my children's future," said David Gooche of Christiansburg.

He cited the "irresponsible and reckless administration," but thanked them for creating a new job for him, which he said was "working every day to change things."

"Get involved with getting the right people in office," he said, and was answered by some in the crowd who shouted, "All new blood!" and "Out with the old!"

Though the breezy day and the noise of passing trains and traffic occasionally drowned out the megaphone, there was a diversity of topics and no shortage of opinions circulating among the crowd.

State Sen. Ralph Smith, R-Botetourt County, attended and, according to a legislative aide, spoke to attendees about the importance of supporting individual political beliefs and the importance of being active.

Sarah Hameline of Hardy said she came to the party because "the current tax code does not work."

She arrived with a sign that read, "I Called The I.R.S. and They Could Not Answer My Question."

"It was about depreciation and amortization," she said of her query.

"We're 30 years old, with master's degrees, and we can't do our own taxes," said her husband, Michael Sawchuk. "It's so complex that we spent 16 hours and $400 just to file."

Still, he added, "I think it's pretty impressive this many people chose to spend their day this way."

As a nationalized U.S. citizen originally from England, Chris Wheal said he was on hand to protest issues other than taxes, to protest what he compared to the changes wrought by former British Prime Minister Tony Blair.

"It's about a whole lot more than that [taxes], it's the encroachment of big government, the advancement of socialism," he said. "All the things America does not stand for."

Late in the event one speaker, Danny Hughes, asked if there were any members of the Roanoke City Council or Roanoke city supervisors present in the crowd.

"They're not here because they're afraid to be here," he theorized. "They should've been here if they have any interest in us."

Organizers estimate about 325 people also showed up on the lawn of the Franklin County Courthouse for a similar event Wednesday, also bearing signs denouncing taxes, bailouts and Obama.

At one point during the rally, attendees were told to use their cellphones to dial numbers that supposedly led to the White House and to Congress. No one was able to get through, and the number dialed for Congress appeared to be disconnected, many said.

About 50 tea bags and two dozen phone calls were received at the office of Rep. Tom Perriello, D-Va., according to the 5th District congressman's press secretary, Jessica Barba.

"The point of this is we all thought we were alone," said Shellie Leete, organizer of the Franklin County tea party. "But we're not. We're all teed off."

Staff writer Janelle Rucker contributed to this report.