NASHVILLE, Tenn. -- People in middle Tennessee and across the country are saying enough is enough on Tax Day.

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Organizers are calling the events tea parties, which stands for Taxed Enough Already. Organizers are drawing comparison to the Boston Tea Party held in 1773.

One of many protests planned for Wednesday started at noon at the state capitol in Nashville, where several thousand people gathered.

Channel 4 reporter Dennis Ferrier said the demonstration at the capitol was the largest protest since the 2002 protest of an income tax proposal.

Many of those at the protests said they feel the federal stimulus package will put generations to come in debt and hurting the average taxpayer and small businesses.

A series of people spoke at the rally in Nashville, including U.S. Rep. Marsha Blackburn, a Republican from Brentwood, and local conservative talk show hosts Steve Gill, Michael DelGiorno and Phil Valentine.

Carol Ferguson of Nashville was one of the protesters. The 67-year-old retired insurance underwriter said she's afraid America will become "a third-world country" if the spending continues.

The rallies are being held from Kentucky to South Carolina, where the governor has repeatedly criticized the $787 billion economic stimulus package Congress passed earlier this year. Large protests also were expected in California and New York.

Similar protests were held on Wednesday in Monteagle, Clarksville, Carthage, Murfreesboro, Franklin and Hendersonville.