HAGERSTOWN — Frustration with excessive spending, debt and other governmental ills united about 300 people Wednesday in downtown Hagerstown as part of a nationwide “Tea Party” movement the day income-tax returns were due.

Undeterred by rain, protesters with signs lined West Franklin Street, near the U.S. Post Office, and West Washington Street. They whooped as the occasional motorist honked a horn in support.

The tea party theme referred to an 18th-century revolt by American colonies against Great Britain.

At a rally in University Plaza, activists cheered anti-tax, anti-deficit speeches by Delegates Christopher B. Shank and Andrew A. Serafini, both Republicans from Washington County.

Participants then walked to the post office to mail their U.S. senators envelopes containing handwritten messages and tea-bag labels.

Local organizer Neil Parrott said he read about Tea Party protests to be held across the country. Starting three weeks ago, he worked on one for Hagerstown. After spreading the word on the Internet, he received about 100 responses by e-mail, he said.

Parrott, a traffic engineer, said he’s worried about the nation’s deficit and attempts to prop up failing industries. “We can’t just throw money at the problem,” he said.

Messages on signs matched Parrott’s sentiment. Some read “Read my lipstick — no more bailouts” and “Honk if I’m paying your mortgage.”

A man who didn’t want to give his name because he’s a federal employee said he wants term limits and people in Congress who share his views.

Patrick Sadowski, who declined to give his hometown, said people in power created a financial crisis to control the masses. He said national ID cards with microchips will be next, following the next manufactured emergency.

“They create a problem and give us a solution,” he said.

Jeff and Yvonne Wallech of Mercersburg, Pa., were with their 7-year-old son, Chandler, along West Franklin Street.

Jeff Wallech said it was a civics lesson for Chandler.

“I want my boy to grow up free,” Yvonne Wallech said.

“The federal government — they need to lower our taxes,” Chandler added.

With tea bags hanging from their hats, Brenda Bowman of Boonsboro and Debbie Green of Williamsport rattled off several grievances.

Bowman said Americans are entitled to keep their money and guns.

Green said the red clothing she wore was the color of the blood American soldiers shed to protect precious rights, such as prayer.

“No redistribution of our wealth,” added Elaine Lunsford of Hagerstown.

“I think this is a real show of support. These people braved this weather,” Elaine Palmer of Falling Waters, W.Va., said.

She said motorists did their part, too.

“Some are going around the block four times to give thumbs up,” Palmer said.

About 300 people registered to be part of the Hagerstown Tea Party at a booth Wednesday. Parrott said other events will be held.

At University Plaza, Shank railed against Democrats in power in Maryland for the draining of the state’s surplus, tax increases, letting illegal immigrants get driver’s licenses, forcing state employees to join and pay dues to a union, and using the power of eminent domain to support horse racing.

He said Gov. Martin O’Malley, a Democrat, took $992 million in federal stimulus money the last week of the Maryland General Assembly session “without so much as him blushing.”

“The people are mad,” said Shank, the House minority whip. “They want their nation back.”

Serafini focused on the burden of the nation’s $11 trillion federal debt on each American household, the precariousness of allowing China and Japan to hold massive U.S. debt and the projected depletion of Social Security funds.

Serafini said both major political parties deserve blame.

“This is both sides of the aisle, I’m afraid to tell you,” he said.

“Are we leaving the next generation better off than we were?” Serafini asked. “I’m afraid we’re not.”

Washington County Commissioner Kristin B. Aleshire, a Democrat who attended the Tea Party, said Shank unfairly frames fiscal conservatism as a partisan issue.

Noting that the rally was being held at a campus that receives state funding, Aleshire asked, “Which tax dollars are you opposed to?”

Tea party signs

The following messages were among the signs at Wednesday’s Tea Party in downtown Hagerstown:

“No taxation without deliberation”

“What would Reagan do?”

“Fed up with both sides of the aisle”

“Liberty: All the stimulus we need”

“Are we going to celebrate Independence Day anymore?”

“Read my lipstick — no more bailouts”

“Taxed enough already — mortgaged to China!”

“Cut taxes, not deals”

“Hey Barrack — I really, really need a new Harley — Oh, yeh, with lots and lots of chrome”

“Congress is a toxic asset”

“Obama, Reid & Pelosi are stupid”

“We’ve hit Barack bottom”

“I’ll keep my freedom guns & money. U can keep the change.”

“Foreclose the Whitehouse”

“Honk if I’m paying your mortgage”

“I am not your ATM”

“Trickle up poverty”

“Stop generational theft”

“Don’t bankrupt my future”

“Say no to socialism”

“Scrap the tax code — a revolution is brewing”