We pay taxes. Why shouldn’t they?
On April 18th, Tax Day, USAction affiliates across the country took it to the streets, targeting huge corporations that don’t pay their fair share of taxes.
Philadelphia, PA
In Portland, Maine People’s Alliance partnered with MoveOn.org to stage protests in front of local Bank of America branches. The country’s largest bank and 5th largest corporation holds over $2.2 trillion in assets, yet pays less in taxes that the average American household.
All told, along with MoveOn, U.S. PIRG and US Uncut, we participated in 30 ”Tax Day – Make Them Pay!” events to demand that corporations and the wealthiest Americans pay their fair share.
Next week, USAction will host an event in New York City with Demos and the Roosevelt Institute focused on the budget crisis in the states. USAction President William McNary of Citizen Action/Illinois and Robert Kraig of Citizen Action of Wisconsin will discuss what can be learned from states’ responses to budgetary concerns and the revenue shortfall created by the recession. See more information on this event and RSVP to attend. Citizen Action/Illinois was chair of a 300-organization coalition which persuaded the state legislature to raise an additional $6.5 billion in taxes to cover essential services.
Robert and William have been on the front lines as states grapple with an unprecedented budgetary crisis caused by the Great Recession, three unfunded wars and the Bush tax cuts. But they are not alone. Nearly every state is being forced to make tough decisions —and more often than not, it’s the middle-class, low-income and poor families who are bearing the brunt of these cuts in jobs and services.
Some additional “Tax Day” events:
Washington Community Action Network (WA CAN), a USAction affiliate, was part of a 5-day, 50-mile march to demand that Washington state lawmakers put people first in the WA budget instead of giving money away in tax breaks for Wall Street banks. Ending at a rally at the state Capitol, WA CAN activist Gina Owens observed that “Something’s wrong – definitely wrong,” as she told of how these budget negotiations affect her and her family. After losing her daughter Tifany, who had no health insurance, Gina was left to take care of her three grandchildren, and now worries about losing the housing that ended her previous homelessness. During the march, a stop was made at a local Bank of America branch to deliver a $3.9 billion tax bill, their fair share in taxes. Republicans in Congress are taking money out of Gina’s pocket. They tell us our country is broke, but we’re not broke. We’ve been robbed.
Portland, ME
Bank of America was one of many large corporations that paid not one single dollar in taxes in 2010, and was a corporate target in marches, protests and rallies across the country. In Philadelphia, activists from Penn ACTION, MoveOn.org and other groups actually shut down a local Bank of America branch. USAction affiliates Georgia Rural Urban Summit, Missouri Pro-Vote and many others also presented Bank of America with tax bills. Other actions were held at tax assistance centers, Chambers of Commerce, and state Capitols across the country. As Lynn Oldham, Missouri Pro-Vote activist and St. Louis resident, states, “During these difficult economic times, when all Americans are being asked to sacrifice, it is simply wrong that Bank of America is shirking their American duty to pay their taxes. We are protesting on tax day because corporate tax dodgers have a responsibility to our community and our national to pay their fair share. We pay our taxes. Corporations should, too.”
With the federal and state budget battles ongoing, it is critical that USAction work with our partners and allies to continue calling upon corporate America to pay their fair share. As the late Senator Paul Wellstone used to say, “we all do better when we all do better.” With your support, we will continue our fights in the states and on the national level. Please give to USAction today, and thank you for your ongoing support and partnership.
We are USAction. We are the true majority.
Jeff Blum is the Executive Director of USAction