Critics of President Barack Obama's stimulus plan took to the streets in St. Louis to protest his stimulus package and symbolically toss tea into the Mississippi River.

The protest, organized by conservative activists and talk-radio hosts, took place despite the blustering cold 35-degree weather.

"If I had known this many people would show up, I'd have charged admission," said Bill Hennessy of Ballwin, the lead organizer. "We'll do this every chance we get until Congress repeals the pork - or we retire them from public life."

Although there was no official count, Hennessy estimated that more than 1,000 people showed up. Former state Sen. John Loudon, R-Chesterfield, concurred with the large turnout assessment, saying, "We conservatives are usually pretty pathetic at making crowds. But this one's good."

Much like other tea parties sprouting across the country, Hennessy said he got the idea a Rick Santelli, a CNBC market commentator in Chicago, who last week called for a tea party to protest Obama's anti-recession plan. His rant became a YouTube sensation, with numerous "tea parties" planned in other cities to represent when American patriots dumped imported tea into the Boston Harbor in 1773.