Members of the Redlands Tea Party and scores of like-minded activists protested Tuesday outside Internal Revenue Service offices in San Bernardino, joining a national Tea Party effort to denounce the Obama administration and IRS targeting of conservative groups.
A Tea Party Patriots handout circulating at the protest on North D Street included the following in an overview of the IRS scandal: "According to the IG report, the IRS began targeting conservative organizations, especially Tea Party groups, in February 2010.
"The IRS agents were directed to target organizations with the words 'patriot' and 'tea party' in the names," the overview states.
Redlands resident Lane Schneider, who identifies herself as founder of the Redlands Tea Party Patriots, held a sign at the protest with the words "Obama's Assault Weapon: I.R.S."
Many motorists honked in support of the protesters, who said they came from towns including Redlands, Beaumont, Menifee, Corona and San Dimas, but women in one northbound car on D Street stopped and honked repeatedly, and shouted "Y'all are racial!"
A Homeland Security federal protective service police vehicle was parked near the protesters outside the IRS offices. The protest ended shortly after 1 p.m.
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