Thousands of Americans across the United States showed up April 15 for tax-day protests, demonstrations seized upon by many prominent Republicans, such as former House Speaker Newt Gingrich and others thought to be eyeing a run for president in 2012.

Protest organizers said the movement is non-partisan and developed organically through online social networking sites, like Facebook and Twitter, and through exposure on the conservative Fox News channel.

Whatever the origins or final outcome of the protests held on the symbolic day — the deadline to file U.S. income taxes — they brought citizens out in force to complain about how much money U.S. President Barack Obama is spending as he tries to pull the country out of a deep recession and near financial meltdown.

The tax-day protests at state capitols, and in neighborhoods and town squares across the country were designed to echo the rebellion of the Boston Tea Party in 1773, when American colonists boarded British ships and dumped tea into the harbor. Britain had imposed a tax on the tea that was bound for the colonial market, but the protesters took action because they had no representation in the British Parliament.

The Boston Tea Party is viewed by many historians as a key event as the American colonists moved toward declaring independence and the revolution against British rule.

The tea parties have also been promoted by FreedomWorks, a conservative non-profit advocacy group based in Washington and led by former Republican House of Representatives Majority Leader Dick Armey of Texas.