A crowd of over 100 people gathered in front of the Warren County Courthouse Wednesday, with signs held high and their message clear to protest government spending of tax dollars during a tax day tea party.

"Today I stand before you and with you, my fellow taxpayers, to protest the excessive government spending," said organizer Dick Campbell.

Asked Campbell, "Are you happy with this spending?"

The crowd responded with a powerful, "No!"

Terry Knepp of Youngsville attended the tea party to express his dissatisfaction over the way taxes are paid by the middle class.

"I'm here today because I feel the taxes should go back to the rich," said Knepp. "They've seen nothing but a break for the last eight years."

He added that people need to "accept the (past) administration created the deficit."

Other topics protested included the amount of the debt the government is accruing and failure to solve energy problems.

Speakers were Conewango Township Supervisor Ed Seebeck and Warren County County Commissioner John Bortz.

"Let this be the spark that lights a fire that blazes brightly all the way to Washington, D.C.," said Bortz.

A similar tax day tea party was held in Sugar Grove, organized by 15-year-old Terra LoPresti, a junior Sugar Grove Borough Council member.

LoPresti said she had to do something after seeing how hard her father worked at his job and watching his paycheck dramatically decrease following tax deductions.

"I want to help get it (the government) going the way it should be," she said.

Featured speakers included former Congressman John Peterson and former AMVETS state commander Gary Fry.

Peterson spoke of the government constantly using money to manage through the tough economic times the country is currently facing.

"There's no way to pay back these debts," he said.

The tax day tea parties held in Warren and Sugar Grove mirrored a number of tea parties held thought the United States.