How utterly fitting that residents of the Harrisburg community would choose today, the Fourth of July, to stage a protest march.

A protest was precisely what July 4, 1776, was all about.

Today's will be decidedly less traumatic: Residents who are fed up with lawlessness and landowner neglect in the downtown neighborhood will be marching and showing their displeasure -- perhaps with particular properties.

"I am sick of this element ruling this neighborhood," homeowner Lori Davis told The Chronicle's Johnny Edwards.

The protest begins at 10 a.m. at Ellis and Eve.

The target is absentee and neglectful property owners, as well as drug activity.

It is fitting to do this on the Fourth of July, because it's all about taking responsibility for our communities and country. We can't sit back and simply allow the government to define the kind of community we live in. That's up to us -- as our Founding Fathers felt it was up to them to break with the realm.

Of course, the country's founders didn't just protest; they rebelled. The difference is primarily one of endurance and determination. A protest lasts hours, perhaps even days -- as in Iran recently. A rebellion doesn't stop until the goal is achieved.

Consider the embryonic "tea party" phenomenon. We're tempted to call it a movement -- but we're not sure it is, quite yet.

Inspired by CNBC broadcaster Rick Santelli's impassioned, impromptu on-air rant about the state of government policy, hundreds of thousands of Americans took to the streets earlier this year -- particularly on April 15 -- to decry over-taxation and other government heavy-handedness.

The angst has only grown in recent months, as more Americans become aware and fearful of the growth in government and government debt. Yet, it's unclear whether the tea party spirit will endure.

Another call rang out for tea-party style protests to be held today. We'll see. Sadly, we're not aware of any local tea party today, as was staged before hundreds on the Riverwalk April 15. Apparently there were too many other conflicting events.

One source connected to the April 15 event does say that a follow-up grassroots training event will be held in late August.

Elsewhere, there will be tea party events scattered throughout the country today, including in -- where else? -- Boston.

"I would say," writes Boston Tea Party organizer Brad Marston, "that at the moment the tea parties are an 'effort,' which as they mature will grow into a 'movement' -- and, to be ultimately successful, will need to become an organized campaign."

We hope that happens -- not just with the tea party effort, but with today's protest aimed at cleaning up Harrisburg.

It's one thing to protest. It's quite another to rebel.