Hundreds Gather For Central Florida Tax Day "Tea Parties"

Hundreds of people across Central Florida gathered for tax day "tea parties." "TEA" stands for "Taxed Enough Already." People rallying Wednesday said they're already taxed too much and want to send a message to lawmakers to stop government waste.

"The taxes are out of control, I mean it's insane. The thing is our children are going to be paying enormous taxes to pay off this debt," protestor Patricia Sullivan said.

"The government is too big, it's out of hand, it's unyielding and we feel that we don't have any say," protester Bill Davis said.

TEA PARTY PHOTOS: Ocala | Daytona BeachSUBMIT PHOTOS: Submit Your "Tea Party" Photos By Email

There are an estimated 22 tea parties being held across the state of Florida.

ORANGE COUNTY PROTESTS

One of the largest of many "tea parties" is expected to begin in Orlando at City Hall Wednesday evening. It's one of more than 20 rallies around the state to protest taxes and Eyewitness News found out that many in Central Florida were bigger than expected.

"Let them know you're mad as hell and you're not going to take it anymore! Stand up, America!" one protestor shouted Wednesday.

"I'm here because I'm against the moderate, progressive, leftist, fascist, socialism that's being pushed on America," another protestor said.

Tea party protests all over Central Florida and the nation set out to take on big government, the Obama administration and, in some cases, anyone who might benefit from a bailout.

"Is this what America's come to? Rewarding those who are too lazy and too stupid to succeed on their own, so we give them a government hand out? No! No!" a protestor screamed.

People said they aren't just mad with the millions in government bailouts, they point out they're also taxed for just about everything we use, from $11 on a cell phone bill, $4 for a municipal tax on a power bill and even a cruise had taxes and fees worth $38.

Some critics dismiss the protests as right-wing rallies, but organizers say their message is bigger than that.

"Hopefully our legislators will hear and heed our voice and if they don't, then they may want to consider this their going away party," Sullivan said.

MARION COUNTY

The tea party brought out several hundred people to the downtown square in Ocala.

PHOTOS: Protestors Rally For "Tea Party"RAW VIDEO: Ocala "Tea Party" Rally

Protestors say there is strength in numbers and hope tea parties will give them a voice in Washington.

"We are sending a message, we want congress to act, and stop the spending," an Ocala protestor said.

Plans are in the works for a follow-up event sometime in July.

LAKE COUNTY

In Lake County, they got more than they expected for the tea party. Over 1,000 people showed up to protest.

VOLUSIA COUNTY

Supporters of a fair tax protested in front of a post office in Daytona Beach Wednesday. They're upset about the billions of dollars in spending by the federal government that they say is helping turn a recession into a depression.

PHOTOS: Protestors Rally In Daytona

Some of the protestors were dressed in colonial costumes, as they dumped tea into the Halifax River.