More than 1,300 Trump protesters join in Tax March in Ann Arbor

ANN ARBOR, MI -- "What do we want? Trump's taxes!"

"When do we want it? Last year!"

That call-and-response message was chanted over and over again as more than 1,300 protesters marched through downtown Ann Arbor on Saturday, April 15, making their way to the University of Michigan campus for a rally on the Diag.

It was one of many "tax marches" happening throughout the United States and abroad, calling on U.S. President Donald Trump to publicly release his tax returns, while also calling for a fairer tax system.

The event was co-organized by activist group Michigan to Believe In and Progressives at the University of Michigan.

"In modern history, no other major presidential candidate, and especially no other president, has refused to release their tax returns," said Robert Joseph, founder and chairman of Progressives at the University of Michigan.

"It's raised some pretty serious concerns, and rightfully so. Who are his policies for? Are they for the American people? Or are they for himself?"

Joseph was one of several people who spoke at the rally, including U.S. Rep. Debbie Dingell, D-Dearborn; state Rep. Yousef Rabhi, D-Ann Arbor; state Rep. Kristy Pagan, D-Canton; Ann Arbor School Board Trustee Susan Baskett; Eli Savit, a law professor at the University of Michigan; and Washtenaw County Commissioner Michelle Deatrick, D-Superior Township.

Deatrick, lead organizer with Michigan to Believe In, said Saturday's turnout was three times larger than expected.

Giving a speech at the rally, Joseph cited a quote from Trump advisor Kellyanne Conway, who said people don't care to see Trump's tax returns.

"We care!" the crowd shouted back.

"Though this march on the surface only concerns one person's tax returns, we're also advocating for a truly fair and progressive tax system, building an economy to benefit more than just the billionaires in Trump's cabinet," Joseph said.

Speakers decried tax policies at the state and federal level that they argue unfairly benefit the wealthy and corporations at the expense of average citizens.

"We have a tax system that rewards the wealthiest and, I am gonna say it ... screws everybody else," Dingell said. "We need to make the message loud and clear that the billionaires and corporations don't need any more tax cuts. We need a system that works for everyday Americans."

Dingell called on Trump to make his tax returns public, suggesting people want to know if he has any "funny business" deals or ties to other countries.

State Rep. Adam Zemke, D-Ann Arbor, and Ann Arbor City Council Member Jack Eaton, D-4th Ward, also attended the event but did not speak.

Savit talked about the role of money in politics, suggesting that is what has led to tax policies benefiting the wealthy and corporations.

"The rich, the corporations, the millionaires and billionaires -- they can bundle money for legislators," he said. "They can start PACs, they can influence elections, and we don't even get to know who's behind them."

That prompted boos from the crowd.

"And you know what they buy with that money? They buy influence, they buy access to politicians," Savit said.

Savit said the problem with tax breaks and tax policies benefitting the wealthy and corporations is that the losers of that game can't even afford to play.

"When corporations, when millionaires and billionaires get tax breaks, it's the rest of us that end up footing the bill for essential services," he said. "It's that firefighter in New York. It's that school teacher in New Orleans. It's that child who's shivering in a Detroit classroom. It's wrong."

Savit acknowledged he was providing a bleak portrait of American politics, so he said he wanted to end his speech on a positive note.

"I think that we are on our way to pushing back against all of this," he said, drawing cheers and applause. "I see everyone out here today. We didn't have a Tax Day rally last year. This is a new thing. We're waking up. We're organizing. We're letting our voices be heard. And we're pushing back against dark money in politics and the influence that millionaires and billionaires exert over politicians."

If you purchase a product or register for an account through a link on our site, we may receive compensation. By using this site, you consent to our User Agreement and agree that your clicks, interactions, and personal information may be collected, recorded, and/or stored by us and social media and other third-party partners in accordance with our Privacy Policy.