On July 9 at 10 a.m., a green bus will roll into Schenley Plaza in Oakland as part of the Tax the Rich National Bus Tour. Run by grassroots coalition, Tax March, the tour is part of a call to, as stated, to make the wealthiest Americans pay higher taxes, but also as action against the "Republican tax scam," referring to the tax cut bill passed by Republicans in 2017 and signed by President Donald Trump.
Tax March started in 2017 as a grassroots movement, involving nationwide marches, with the goal of getting Trump to release his tax returns. Now, it is an organization with a broader goal of fighting for economic equality and a more fair tax system. The Tax the Rich tour is specifically addressing the desired increase for higher taxes among the most wealthy Americans, as Trump is reportedly working on another tax break for the wealthy.
According to research conducted by Tax March, 75 percent of likely 2020 voters support higher taxes for the rich, with support from Democrats, Republicans, and independents.
The tour launched in Miami on June 26, the day of the first Democratic presidential debate, and will end in Detroit on July 30, the day of the second round of debates, stopping in more than 20 states in between.
"We want candidates to be talking about it, we want elected officials to be talking about it, and what's more, we want them to be telling us what are they going to do?" says Tax March executive director Maura Quint. "How are they proposing that we go about taxing the rich and solving the inequality that exists in our tax system."
The Pittsburgh stop will feature speakers, including state Rep. Sara Innamorato (D-Lawrenceville) and Rev. Sally Jo Snyder. The bus will have Tax March personnel to talk with and materials to learn more about the campaign. The bus also features lettering on the front that says "honk if you wanna tax the rich." Quint says they get honked at "nonstop."
Ultimately, Quint says, the goal of the tour is to raise awareness about economic inequality, empower voters to take action, and make sure politicians can hear them.
"When we talk to people across the country, there is this feeling that perhaps you need a special degree to talk about economic issues," says Quint. "This is not something that needs to happen on some lofty hill. Instead, we actually have a voice and we want to raise it, and we want to make sure our elected leaders hear it."
Tax the Rich Bus Tour comes to Schenley Plaza on Tuesday
