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HANOVERTON - One Independence Day Tea Party speaker compared historic Plymouth Street to the streets of Boston where the country's forefathers raged against their government.

This time, though, he urged them to issue pink slips to members of Congress instead of wet tea bags to members of Parliament.

"It's time for them to come home," said David Zagotti of the American Policy Roundtable, an entity he described as an independent organization committed to the U.S. Constitution and the Declaration of Independence.

The pink slips are notices advising representatives they won't be supported and they're fired. He said this was the plan to restart America, referring those gathered to www.moveoutcongress.com.

A crowd estimated between 1,000 and 1,500 strong from inside and far outside Columbiana County gathered in front of the Spread Eagle Tavern in Hanoverton to hear the speakers, hoist their signs and cheer for their beliefs about the government on the eve of July 4, the date known as the birthday of the nation.

Zagotti served as the master of ceremonies for the latest rally organized by he Columbiana County Tea Party with help from Columbiana County Republican Party Chairman David Johnson, although he stressed he was lending his assistance as a citizen and businessman who's fed up with government, not as party chair. He said he plans to stay involved and was gratified with the kind of turnout they had.

He described those in attendance as average folks concerned with what's happening in Washington, with what he considers the most radical Congress and most radical administration ever.

Anita Fraser, president of the Columbiana County Tea Party, called the people in attendance American patriots. More people came than she expected and she offered thanks to Johnson and Zagotti. She said they'll be planning another tea party and said they'll also be traveling to Washington on Sept. 12 when all the Tea Party groups converge on the nation's capital.

Speakers for the Hanoverton Tea Party included state Rep. William Batchelder, the House minority leader for the Republicans; Robert Murray, president of Murray Energy Corp. and a fifth-generation coal miner; Bob Frederick, whose Chrysler-Dodge-Jeep dealership in Boardman was forced to shut down; and Wayne Herrod, a farmer from West Virginia touted as an expert on the U.S. Constitution. Becky Burke of East Liverpool gave the invocation.

"I just want to hear what everybody has to say," Negley resident Paul Cekovich said prior to the event.

A Republican who owns a small business, he said he's tired of being taxed to death. His brother, Steve, said he doesn't mind getting taxed if the money's put to good use, but he disagrees with how money is being used. He said the government's layered with fat, from the local government on up.

Frank Ecker and Craig Curtis, who made the trip from Wooster, both said they want to take their freedom back and get some politicians out.

Batchelder said the United States was the oldest free Republic in the world, but at this point, he said the nation's in its darkest period. He said the government had taken control of the banks, two car companies, the steel industry and now wants to take over the energy industry, with health care next.

"Stand tall and stand strong and see to it that this crisis doesn't become the center of a dictatorship," he said in closing.

Herrod rallied the movement by quoting patriot Samuel Adams who said it doesn't take a majority to prevail but an irate minority to start some fires, telling the crowd it's "our duty to go out there and start some brushfires."

Murray offered a lot of criticism of the Obama administration, but especially of the Ohio congressional delegation, calling them the worst of the bunch. In talking about the climate bill known as Cap-and-trade, he said it will destroy Ohio's economy and hike utility rates besides costing jobs in the coal industry. He said he can't look his workers in the eye anymore because he fears they won't have jobs much longer.

He said the bill has nothing to do with the environment and everything to do with transferring wealth to a handful of states who will benefit on the backs of the rest.

Frederick described himself as living proof of what can happen. His dealership was founded in 1960, moved and expanded and was told to plan for a huge remodeling, then Chrysler pulled the plug on him, leaving 54 families unemployed, including his own.

Mary Ann Greier can be reached at mgreier@salemnews.net