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‘Tax March’ Hopes to Pressure Trump Into Releasing His Returns The Tax March Explained: Protesters Hope to Pressure Trump Into Releasing Returns
(about 5 hours later)
Thousands of protesters are expected to turn out on Saturday in cities across the country as part of Tax March, a demonstration that organizers hope will put pressure on President Trump to release his personal returns.Thousands of protesters are expected to turn out on Saturday in cities across the country as part of Tax March, a demonstration that organizers hope will put pressure on President Trump to release his personal returns.
The march — which organizers estimate has the backing of about 70 organizations — falls, not coincidently, on the day traditionally associated with the deadline to file taxes. (This year’s deadline is April 18.)The march — which organizers estimate has the backing of about 70 organizations — falls, not coincidently, on the day traditionally associated with the deadline to file taxes. (This year’s deadline is April 18.)
A rally in Washington will begin at noon on the West Front Lawn of the United States Capitol; attendees will start marching toward the Lincoln Memorial about an hour later and will finish by about 4 p.m.A rally in Washington will begin at noon on the West Front Lawn of the United States Capitol; attendees will start marching toward the Lincoln Memorial about an hour later and will finish by about 4 p.m.
Similar marches will occur in about 150 other cities and towns, organizers said. The collective demonstration is expected to be one of the largest since protesters flooded the streets in January for a women’s march.Similar marches will occur in about 150 other cities and towns, organizers said. The collective demonstration is expected to be one of the largest since protesters flooded the streets in January for a women’s march.
Last year, Mr. Trump became the first major-party presidential nominee in more than 40 years not to release his tax returns. As president, he has still not done so. Presidents are not required to release their returns, but have voluntarily done so since the early 1970s.Last year, Mr. Trump became the first major-party presidential nominee in more than 40 years not to release his tax returns. As president, he has still not done so. Presidents are not required to release their returns, but have voluntarily done so since the early 1970s.
How did this Tax March come to be?How did this Tax March come to be?
The day after Mr. Trump’s inauguration, Jennifer Taub, a professor at Vermont Law School, went to Boston to participate in the women’s march. She said in a telephone interview on Friday that she had been overwhelmed by the crowds, but also left feeling inspired. The morning after that march, she posted a message on Twitter suggesting “a nationwide #DivestDonald and #showusyourtaxes protest” for April 15.The day after Mr. Trump’s inauguration, Jennifer Taub, a professor at Vermont Law School, went to Boston to participate in the women’s march. She said in a telephone interview on Friday that she had been overwhelmed by the crowds, but also left feeling inspired. The morning after that march, she posted a message on Twitter suggesting “a nationwide #DivestDonald and #showusyourtaxes protest” for April 15.
It turned out that the writer Frank Lesser had made a similar proposal on Twitter. And it “turned into a movement overnight,” Ms. Taub said. “It was quite shocking.”It turned out that the writer Frank Lesser had made a similar proposal on Twitter. And it “turned into a movement overnight,” Ms. Taub said. “It was quite shocking.”
What do organizers hope to accomplish?What do organizers hope to accomplish?
On their website, organizers keep their answer broad and simple: “We’re marching on Washington, D.C. and around the country to ask Donald Trump: WHAT ARE YOU HIDING?”On their website, organizers keep their answer broad and simple: “We’re marching on Washington, D.C. and around the country to ask Donald Trump: WHAT ARE YOU HIDING?”
Ms. Taub said she thought the public would eventually see Mr. Trump’s tax returns “one way or another.” Asked whether Saturday’s march would be enough to force the president’s hand, she said, “We don’t know what can work — and what can happen.”Ms. Taub said she thought the public would eventually see Mr. Trump’s tax returns “one way or another.” Asked whether Saturday’s march would be enough to force the president’s hand, she said, “We don’t know what can work — and what can happen.”
Regardless, she said she hoped the demonstrations would encourage people to call their congressional representatives about the issue. Some states, she noted, are considering legislation that would compel presidential candidates to disclose their tax returns or be left off the ballot.Regardless, she said she hoped the demonstrations would encourage people to call their congressional representatives about the issue. Some states, she noted, are considering legislation that would compel presidential candidates to disclose their tax returns or be left off the ballot.
“I want to keep our attention on following the money,” Ms. Taub said.“I want to keep our attention on following the money,” Ms. Taub said.
More broadly, she said, the Washington organizers hope their march will help highlight the need for people to pay “their fair share” and ensure that public resources are used for “things that help society grow and flourish.”More broadly, she said, the Washington organizers hope their march will help highlight the need for people to pay “their fair share” and ensure that public resources are used for “things that help society grow and flourish.”
Why won’t Mr. Trump release his tax returns?Why won’t Mr. Trump release his tax returns?
Mr. Trump has insisted that he will not release information about his taxes because many years of his returns are under a routine federal audit. The White House has said that he has been transparent when it comes to financial disclosures.Mr. Trump has insisted that he will not release information about his taxes because many years of his returns are under a routine federal audit. The White House has said that he has been transparent when it comes to financial disclosures.
The Sunday after his inauguration, Kellyanne Conway, a senior counselor to Mr. Trump, told the ABC program “This Week” that the president had no intention of releasing his taxes, which prompted an outcry by people like Ms. Taub.The Sunday after his inauguration, Kellyanne Conway, a senior counselor to Mr. Trump, told the ABC program “This Week” that the president had no intention of releasing his taxes, which prompted an outcry by people like Ms. Taub.
What does any of this have to do with inflatable chickens?What does any of this have to do with inflatable chickens?
Tax March, it turns out, also has an unofficial mascot: a giant inflatable rooster known colloquially as “Trump chicken.”Tax March, it turns out, also has an unofficial mascot: a giant inflatable rooster known colloquially as “Trump chicken.”
A Seattle-based illustrator completed a design in November for a company that wanted a statue for the Chinese New Year to commemorate the Year of the Rooster. The original 23-foot fiberglass statue was installed outside a shopping mall in northern China at a time when relations between China and the United States were especially strained.A Seattle-based illustrator completed a design in November for a company that wanted a statue for the Chinese New Year to commemorate the Year of the Rooster. The original 23-foot fiberglass statue was installed outside a shopping mall in northern China at a time when relations between China and the United States were especially strained.
An activist in San Francisco later came up with the idea of buying replica inflatable chickens for use in the Tax March, Ms. Taub said. She said the chickens were a “good symbol” for the march, both because she said Mr. Trump was too scared to release his tax returns, and because the chickens are more fun and entertaining than tax policy.An activist in San Francisco later came up with the idea of buying replica inflatable chickens for use in the Tax March, Ms. Taub said. She said the chickens were a “good symbol” for the march, both because she said Mr. Trump was too scared to release his tax returns, and because the chickens are more fun and entertaining than tax policy.