Diana Jorgensen knows that U.S. Rep. Ron Paul, a Texas Republican and former presidential candidate, might seem "kooky" to some people because of his political opinons. But, when it comes to his idea of repealing the Federal Reserve Act, she agrees "this is a valid, good idea."

"[The Federal Reserve system] is playing with a lot of people's lives," said Jorgensen, a 30-year-old Salt Lake City mom and college student. "They're stealing from us."

On Saturday afternoon, Jorgensen, along with more than 100 people, including children, rallied in support of Paul's legislation to abolish the Federal Reserve. The crowd filled a sidewalk in front of the Federal Reserve Bank of San Francisco at the corner of 100 South and State Street in Salt Lake City.

The event was one of about 40 similar rallies scheduled Saturday nationwide, including New York City, Los Angeles, Miami and El Paso, Texas. In June 2007, Paul introduced the Federal Reserve Board Abolition Act (H.R. 2755) to abolish the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System and each federal reserve bank. It was referred to the House Committee on Financial Services.

Many Utah supporters learned about the rallies through a Web site called www.endthefed.us. (The site says that on Nov. 22, 1910, a group of bankers met to create what is now the Federal Reserve System.)

Utah groups at the rally included the Utah Minuteman Project and Campaign for Liberty.

Ben Nilson, a 28-year-old corporate salesman, drove about 90 miles from Logan to lend his support. He and others believe many of the country's problems, especially the ongoing economic crisis, stem from not following the Constitution and implementing the Federal Reserve System.

"I'm hoping simply that this [rally] awakens people to what's happening," Nilson said. "People don't know [the constitution] is being abused.

Under a bright sky and bundled in coats, protesters stood holding homemade signs that read "Save the Ink! Abolish the Fed!," "Support H.R. 2755" and "1913 Screw Job," referring to the year the Federal Reserve Act became law.

Chaunce Shrewsbury, an 18-year-old Salt Lake City resident, said he started studying about the system a year ago when he learned about Paul's presidential platform. He hopes lawmakers consider H.R. 2755.

"I care about the future of America," he said.

jsanchez@sltrib.com