Anti-Obamacare Rally Takes Over 4th St.

The Supreme Court of the United States is expected to rule on the critical portion of Obamcare later this month, but protesters did not wait until the Court's ruling on the individual mandate to take to the busy streets of St. Petersburg to protest the Health and Human Services Mandate. 

Around 150 people came out with signs, rosaries and American flags Friday at the intersection of 4th Street and 22nd Avenue N in opposition to what they say is government infringing on their religious rights. 

Event organizer Michael Brennan said never has religion been under attack by the government like it is now. 

"I'm here to support the 1st Amendment," Brennan said. "It says our government will not get in the way of religious freedom. 

"The problem with the Health and Human Services Mandate, it oppose more than the Catholic Church but other Christian communities as well," Brennan added. "Abortions, sterilization, and of course, that all important pill that we will have to be freely provided for all services aligned with churches."

On Thursday, According to the Washington Post, likely GOP-nominee Mitt Romney continued to hammer President Barack Obama on the healthcare mandate. 

“I am encouraged that the House has done the right thing and voted to repeal the medical device tax. With unemployment stuck over 8 percent for 40 months, we can’t afford policies that kill jobs and stifle innovation in one of America’s most dynamic industries. The ill-considered medical device tax is only one of many fatal flaws in Obamacare. As president, I will work from my first day in office to dismantle Barack Obama’s federal health-care takeover and replace it with real reform that strengthens our health care system and puts patients first.”

Friday's protest was one of many Stand Up for Religious Freedom rallies across the country protesting Obamacare.

According to the national website for 'Stand Up', more than 36,000 protesters participated in 76 events across the U.S. 

Friday was also the . More than 250 protesters s. 

“Let us be clear, pregnancy is not a disease, fertility is not an illness, and motherhood is not a medical condition," said Kristina Garza of Survivors of the Abortion Holocaust, speaking to more than 250 people at the March 23 protest.

"Contraception is not preventive care, and abortion-inducing drugs are not health care,” said Garza, who is campus outreach director for the group.

"This is about our moral right and what we believe to be sacred," Brennan said Friday. We are all Catholic now. The stuff has hit the wall and we better stand up or there will be nothing to stand up to. It’s like they said about Germany, 'they went after the Jews first and then they eventually came after me.''