About 100 protesters lined U.S. 41 in downtown Sarasota Thursday evening to protest the GOP tax bill working through Congress.

Even as the tax plan appears headed for passage, protesters gathered near the Unconditional Surrender statue said they wanted to make their objections known and warn politicians that there could be repercussions from passing the measure.

Shielding his face with a cardboard cutout of U.S. Rep. Vern Buchanan’s image, Lakewood Ranch retiree Robert McCaa held up a large sign made to look like a check written out to “the wealthiest 1%” for $1.5 trillion.

The sign alluded to criticism that the $1.5 trillion tax cut mostly benefits the wealthy and corporations.

“The tax bill is a scam, it’s going to drive this country deeper into debt and the money is going to corporations that don’t even need it,” McCaa said.

The event was organized by a number of left-leaning groups, including Action Together Suncoast. The organization’s president, Dianne Perry, said she still hopes the bill can be defeated.

“It’s still in reconciliation so it’s not a done deal yet,” she said. “We have to continue to speak out until the final stamp.”

Others at the protest conceded that the legislation is likely to become law. Both the U.S. House and Senate have passed versions of the bill and are now working to reconcile the differences between the two measures.

“The ballot box is the only way to make real change,” said Sarasota resident Susan Brown, who attend the event wearing a pink knit hat with cat ears that was a common site during the Women's March on Washington the day after President Donald Trump's election.

Brown participated in the solidarity march in Sarasota held in conjunction with the Washington D.C. event. While the crowds for protests have thinned since that march attracted thousands, Brown said she still sees value in taking to the streets.

"You feel like you have to do something," Brown said.