Thousands march to demand Trump release his tax returns

“It’s fundamental that politicians share their tax returns period. We deserve to know who he owes and what he owns.”

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Mark Hersch holds up a Vladimir Putin mask while puppeteering a Donald Trump puppet, Saturday, April 15, 2017, in Chicago. Image credit: Tyler LaRiviere/NationofChange

Thousands rallied and marched in 180 different cities across the nation including Chicago reminding Trump that the electorate does care about his tax returns.

Estimates of around 2 to 4 thousand from Chicago and surrounding areas rallied in Daley Plaza including Congresswoman Jan Schakowsky and State Senator Daniel Biss.

Kate Russell writing “I’m an activist because of you” on the Resist Trump Wall, Saturday, April 15, 2017, in Chicago. Image credit: Tyler LaRiviere/NationofChange

Congresswoman Schakowsky during her speech in Daley Plaza outlined the five most important reasons why the people need to see Trump’s tax returns.

“We have to see them because we need to know how much money is Donald Trump, his family, and his cronies are making if they were able to repeal Obamacare.”

Thousands rally in Daley Plaza during the Trump Tax March, Saturday, April 15, 2017, in Chicago. Image credit: Tyler LaRiviere/NationofChange

Schakowsky continues with wanting to know how much President Trump pays in taxes, as well as how much Trump donates to charity and makes from the Presidency. Finally, Schakowsky wants to see the personal, political and financial relationship that Trump has with Russia.

For Laura Sova, a Chicago native and one of the marchers that participated in Chicago’s Tax March, knowing Trump’s ties with other countries is the most important aspect to Trump’s tax returns.

Thousands rally in Daley Plaza during the Trump Tax March, Saturday, April 15, 2017, in Chicago. Image credit: Tyler LaRiviere/NationofChange

“It matters to me because there could be real fraud going on here and ownership in other countries, it could be very wrong, very dangerous and could affect our foreign policy and national security.” Sova continues, “It’s fundamental that politicians share their tax returns period. We deserve to know who he owes and what he owns. There’s, I think dangerous ties to many countries.”

Guido Nardini who also marched in Chicago’s Tax March feels that Trump must be hiding something with how aggressive he’s hiding his returns.

Group of activists hold up ‘pants on fire’ effigies, Saturday, April 15, 2017, in Chicago. Image credit: Tyler LaRiviere/NationofChange

“A Tax Return is a pretty telling document and while it’s not a legal obligation for him to show them, as a judge of character I just smell something fishy for a guy to be as ardently hiding these documents the way he means there’s something worth seeing.” Nardini worries who Trump is beholden to, “I don’t want to be a part of the adult populace on whose watch we saw the first usurped presidency. I think we can rightfully demand to know whom he is beholden.”

State Senator Biss also spoke to the gathered crowd in Daley Plaza where he outlined SB 982 a piece of legislation that was introduced to Springfield that would require any presidential candidate who appears on the Illinois ballot to release their tax returns.

Congresswoman Jan Schakowsky speaking to the thousands gathered at Daley Plaza during the Trump Tax March, Saturday, April 15, 2017, in Chicago. Image credit: Tyler LaRiviere/NationofChange

“If you want to appear on the ballot for president of the United States in Illinois, you have to release 5 years of tax returns.”

In a show of commitment to his own legislation, Biss released the last 5 years of his own tax returns Friday, ahead of his run for Governor in Illinois.

State Senator Daniel Biss speaking to the thousands gathered at Daley Plaza during the Trump Tax March, Saturday, April 15, 2017, in Chicago. Image credit: Tyler LaRiviere/NationofChange

The march in Chicago and in most parts of the country was peaceful. However in Berkeley California 13 were arrested after around 200 people got together for separate rallies Saturday. Conflict arose between the different protests and protesters began pushing and shoving one another.

In Las Vegas, a photojournalist with KLAS-TV was arrested for trespassing while covering a Tax March protest outside Trump International Hotel near the Strip.

Activists march on Wacker Drive towards Trump Tower, Saturday, April 15, 2017, in Chicago. Image credit: Tyler LaRiviere/NationofChange

Alt-Right provocateur Mike Cernovich was punched in the face after repeatedly yelling “Bill Clinton is a rapist” at a Tax March rally in Austin, Texas.

Chicago police officers hold a barricade at Wabash Ave and Wacker Drive preventing protesters from getting closer to Trump Tower, Saturday, April 15, 2017, in Chicago. Image credit: Tyler LaRiviere/NationofChange
Elizabeth Palazio holds up an American Flag with “Show Your Taxes” written on it in front of Trump Tower, Saturday, April 15, 2017, in Chicago. Image credit: Tyler LaRiviere/NationofChange

Tell the Federal Elections Commission to make tax return disclosure a requirement:

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