Hundreds march in Burlington to demand President Trump release tax returns
Part of national effort for transparency
Part of national effort for transparency
Part of national effort for transparency
More than 300 people marched in Burlington Saturday as part of a national effort to demand President Donald Trump show his taxes.
"We're here because we want a fair democracy and in a fair democracy, everybody pays their fair share," former Vermont Gov. Madeleine Kunin said.
More than 180 cities across 48 states held similar marches coinciding with the traditional April 15 deadline for U.S. tax filings, though this year, the deadline falls on Tuesday.
"It's heartwarming and gratifying to come together with like minded people who are working to right a wrong," protester Mark Banks said.
"People are really upset, especially on April 15 when they are handing in their tax form, that the president of the U.S. breaks tradition," Kunin said.
It's something every president and major party nominee has done for the past 40 years. Trump's break with that tradition has raised questions about possible conflicts of interest.
"Does he have dealings with Russia that we don't know about? Is he honest as a tax payer?" Kunin said.
During the campaign, Trump said he would release his returns when he was done being audited. He later said voters don't care, but Saturday's national movement shows some people do.
"We just want to show him that people do care. And I think there are things he may be hiding in his taxes, but it's more the fact that he has lied about showing them," protest organizer Gail Kemmer said.
The release would be voluntary. U.S. law requires only the publication of a financial statement that estimates assets, which the billionaire property tycoon has released. But for some, that's not enough.
"We want to know and the American people have a right to know," Kunin said.
Further action is being considered in Vermont. A bill requiring presidential candidates to disclose federal tax returns in order to be on the state ballot is in a Senate committee at the Statehouse.