“Their spark to get involved was health care passing”

Tax Day tea parties are planned for Thursday in 20 North Carolina cities, reports Carolina Journal’s David Bass.

“It’s pretty awesome to see all these grassroots people come together and have spontaneous rallies,” said Matthew Ridenhour, organizer of Charlotte’s Tea Party scheduled from 3 p.m. to 5 p.m. in the Queen City’s downtown.

Ridenhour said he expects around 2,500 people at the rally. He says a “second wave” of people are getting involved this year due to the raucous health care debate.

“Their spark to get involved was health care passing,” he said.

Laura Lane, who is spearheading the Tea Party rally in Raleigh starting at 5 p.m. at the State Capitol, says she was prompted to get involved early last year from a feeling that America was in trouble and no one knew what to do. She launched a meet-up group, Triangle Conservatives Unite, to help coordinate activism around the metro area.

Raleigh’s tea party is tomorrow at 5 p.m. in downtown.

This Web site provides a link to details on the Raleigh event, as well as the many other tea parties around the state.

Speakers at the Raleigh event include Michael Sanera, the John Locke Foundation’s local government analyst and research director.