The crowd skewed overwhelmingly white and over 50—groups like these were pretty representative. As one older attendee noted, the protest took place during work hours and, as a result, may have leaned more toward retirees than usual.
Benjamin Sarlin
Captain America was actually the subject of a Tea Party controversy after a recent issue appeared to depict an anti-Obama rally. This costumed protester, who identified himself as Paul Revere, said he was unaware of the incident. He was a lot more eager to discuss President Obama's place of birth, which he believes is Kenya (it's actually Hawaii), and cited the issue as his No. 1 reason for attending the rally.
Benjamin Sarlin
Mark, 25, is not a protester but one of the many young entrepreneurs looking to profit off the Tea Party rally. At one point, a Tea Partier accused a flag merchant of being an ACORN infiltrator.
Benjamin Sarlin
Attendees had a tough time figuring out what 20-year-old Amanda Chatham was protesting against. She said she was a member of the Philadelphia Tea Party and was in town to protest Obama and "taxes, basically," but held up a sign attacking Fox News, drawing disapproving murmurs from others in the crowd. Asked about her reason for the anti-Fox sign, she referred me to a 9/11 truth site.
Benjamin Sarlin
A lot of signs addressed the "racist" label that's been thrown at Tea Partiers by critics. It was clearly a touchy subject for the almost entirely white crowd.
Benjamin Sarlin
It wouldn't be a Tea Party without red, white, and blue all over the place. This photo was taken while Pastor David Whitney delivered a prayer in which he declared, "Establishing justice and defending borders are the only legal functions of government...all other taxation for any other purpose is legalized plunder."
Benjamin Sarlin
That is one scary sign. More push-back against the racism, hate-speech accusations in the background.
Benjamin Sarlin
A banner for the Oath Keepers hangs from the press riser. The group, which calls on U.S. soldiers to resist orders they consider unconstitutional, has been attacked by the Southern Poverty Law Center as an extremist organization.
Benjamin Sarlin
