Tax Day protests draw crowds across Nevada

Large crowds showed up across Nevada showed to protest President Barack Obama's economic and stimulus plans and show their disdain for the current state of government.

At Sunset Park, an estimated 2,000 to 2,500 people showed up to rally. And in Carson City, a crowd of 2,000 demanded that legislators not increase taxes during a protest outside the state Legislative Building.

Jack Landreth, program director for KXNT-840 AM radio, said of the Sunset Park gathering, "There's a lot of anger, but there's a lot of positive anger.

"There are people who want to be heard and make a difference and this gave them the opportunity to do that."

Protesters carried signs with messages such as "Abolish the IRS" and "One Big Awful Mistake America," which as an acronym spells Obama.

Jennean Scacco, 55, of Las Vegas, sat in a chair on Eastern Avenue holding a “Stop Spending” sign.

“I learned long ago that when you find yourself in a hole you should stop digging. Unfortunately, those we elected have not figured that out yet. They just think spending is going to get us out of this problem.”

About 3 p.m. a crowd of 50 to 100 protesters was beginning to assemble outside the Main Post Office on Sunset Road for a rally that was expected to go well into the evening.

In Carson City, legislative police and Carson City sheriff’s deputies said the protest was the largest they have seen.

“I’m glad to be with you,” said Rep. Dean Heller, R-Nev., as he addressed the crowd. “You are doing exactly what needs to be done on Tax Day.”

He said Obama’s spending plans have added $250,000 in debt for each of his four children.

“The way to stimulate the economy is to cut taxes,” added former Assemblywoman Sharron Angle, R-Reno.

To the cheers of the crowd, Angle added she has created an exploratory committee to decide whether to oppose U.S. Sen. Harry Reid, D-Nev., in the 2010 election. Many in the crowd carried anti-Reid signs. One carried an Obama sign showing him holding a hammer and sickle. Others called the president a socialist.

Angle said legislators should support Gov. Jim Gibbons’ plan not to increase taxes in Nevada. Government should be cut, she said.

An elderly Carson City couple, Robert and Dwanna Dempsey, said too many people believe the government should give them cradle-to-grave support. They said they are not just blaming Obama, but politicians who have supported deficit spending for years.

“We need to clean out all the politicians,” Dwanna Dempsey added. “They don’t listen.”

She added she was speaking of state legislators as well as members of Congress.