Two of the nation’s leading organizations on tax and budget policy – USAction and US Uncut – are organizing more than 100 Tax Day actions for tax day – April 18th. The groups make a direct connection between proposed budget cuts at the state and federal level and a corporate culture of tax evasion.
“We don’t have a deficit crisis. We have a revenue crisis,” said Jeff Blum, USAction executive director. “We can shave at least one trillion dollars off the deficit if we put an end to tax breaks for the rich and corporate giveaways – none of which meet human needs nor significantly create good-paying jobs. Will we continue to squeeze working families and the middle class or will we create good jobs here at home, provide our families with security and build a brighter future for our children? This is the choice that Congress faces. This is the choice our nation faces.”
While millions of Americans pay their taxes this weekend, many have begun to wonder why those who profit most off a system of public services in America pay so little to maintain it. In fact, the Government Accountability Office reports that 83 of the top 100 US companies use tax havens to dodge taxes.
“This week will be the largest protest against corporate tax cheats in American history. This is the next wave of tax protest in America,” said US Uncut NYC spokesperson Duncan Meisel, “Citizens in nearly 100 cities are taking to the streets to demand that corporate tax cheats stop bankrupting America.”
In Washington D.C., local organizers are holding a “guerilla book signing” at a corporate storefront with soon-to-be bestselling author Nick Shaxson, who recently wrote Treasure Islands: Uncovering the Damage of Offshore Banking & Tax Havens. On April 18th, the anniversary of Paul Revere’s ride, local Boston activists are holding a March for Common Sense with the rallying cry: “The Cuts are coming! The Cuts are coming!” A flash-mob with the Brass Liberation Orchestra greeted a tax cheat in San Francisco on Friday.
Organized primarily through social media, citizens in nearly 100 cities across America have organized events at corporate storefronts to take creative action on a weekend most Americans dread. Holding signs that say “Tax Cheat,” “Uncut US,” and “Chop from the Top, Not from Mom & Pop,” activists from previous actions appear to be a fun mix of soccer moms, college students, and Social Security recipients.
“I’m a veteran that’s been unemployed for over 99 months now, and on the same day I heard about GE’s tax evasion, I got a letter saying my VA benefits were being reduced,” said unemployed veteran and US Uncut supporter Earl James, “Why not invest in jobs for veterans and VA benefits for those who served instead of letting tax cheats like GE’s Jeffrey Immelt get away with cheating our country?”
US Uncut is a decentralized grassroots movement organized through social media that connects corporate tax cheats to public service cuts.
USAction is a federation of 24 state affiliates and partners that organize for a more just America. With our state partners, we build broad coalitions to win progressive campaigns that enrich people’s lives.
The tax day events began late last week and will continue through the week of Monday, April 18.
For a list of events across the nation, please visit www.usuncut.org
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