Photos of Tax Day Teaparty in Boston, MA; from Gillian Mason and Jon Dyen

Dear Huffington Post,

 

As registered "Citizen Reporters," we attempted to attend the Tea Party in Boston Common this evening. It was supposed to be happening from 5-7, but by the time we got there, around 5:20, there were no protesters. However, the trash cans of the Common provided evidence they had been there:

 

#01:

“Your Choice/1776 or 1984” and “A GOVERNMENT BIG ENOUGH TO GIVE YOU EVERYTHING YOU NEED IS BIG ENOUGH TO TAKE IT ALL AWAY by Thomas Jefferson”

 

#02

“Close D.C. SAVE A COUNTRY!”

 

#03

“RON PAUL/HOPE FOR AMERICA/Be a part of it”

 

#04

Abandoned signs on the walking path through the Common.

 

We talked to a woman canvassing for a group that works with foster kids, who told us that she had seen the tax people boarding busses and had heard that they were headed to the harbor. We figured that since we didn’t know where along the harbor they would be, we would just call it a night and head down to our apartment in the North End. On the way home, though, we stumbled into the wrap up of what must have been the formal dumping-of-the-tea-into-the-harbor at Christopher Columbus Park on the Waterfront. While the action was clearly over, there were a few memorable images of the denouement:

 

#05

The protesters, socializing. Most appeared to be energized by the event.

 

#06

When I took his picture, this man seemed happy and said, “Finally, somebody likes me.” He was concerned that the mainstream media outlets present at the protest had not been eager to hear his message, which was “Down with both Parties.” His sign juxtaposes “Bush/ ‘Compassionate’ Conservative/War/Torture/Wiretaps/Bailouts/Trillion $ Deficits” with “Obama/ ‘Change’ we can believe in/War/Torture/Wiretaps/Bailouts/Trillion $ Deficits.”

 

#07

This military family was relatively somber.

 

#08

A crowd of protesters formed around this man in 1776 costume.

 

#09

The crowd watching the man in the 1776 costume, including a very cute kid.

 

#10

A man holds a sign that reads, “STOP USING OUR KIDS MONEY AND START USING COMMON SENSE,” while his children play in the background.

 

#11

This woman was very pleased to show off her sign. Another woman laughed, "Isn't that a great sign?"

 

#12

 

Again, the teabaggers left their mark on the public space.

 

Thanks for giving us an excuse to document this chilling moment in our country’s history. We are used to historical reenactments up here, but this was something else altogether.

 

Best,

Gillian Mason

And

Jon Dyen

Done