A few hundred march in Naples, demand Trump tax returns, more transparency

Greg Stanley, greg.stanley@naplesnews.com; 239-263-4738

Several hundred protesters marched around downtown Naples on a breezy Saturday morning to demand President Donald Trump release his tax returns.

Laurel Egan holds her fist in the air as she chants during the Tax March on Saturday, April 15, 2017 in Downtown Naples. The rally began with participants marching down 8th Ave, across 3rd Street, up 5th Avenue and to the Downtown Naples Post Office to drop off postcards which were addressed to the President, asking for the release of his tax returns.

Waving signs that read “Show me the rubles!” “I do care” and “History is Watching,” the marchers circled Fifth Avenue South and the streets around Cambier Park.

Then they headed to a post office to drop off postcards addressed to the White House. The postcards demanded the tax returns.

The rally was held in concert with more than 100 others across the country to mark April 15, historically Tax Day, although tax returns aren't due this year until Tuesday for people who owe taxes.

More:Tax Day protesters demand Trump release his returns

Daiva Deupree, on vacation with her family from New York, said she wanted to attend the march before going to the beach.

“It’s important in Florida, where it’s been Trump country, to make sure bodies are present,” Deupree said.

Tamara Paquette holds a bin to collect post cards during the Tax March on Saturday, April 15, 2017 in Downtown Naples. The rally began with participants marching down 8th Ave, across 3rd Street, up 5th Avenue and to the Downtown Naples Post Office to drop off postcards which were addressed to the President, asking for the release of his tax returns.

Trump is the first president since Gerald Ford to refuse to release his full tax returns to the public.

That’s especially troubling because the real estate mogul has had a complicated network of business dealings, said K.C. Schulberg, an organizer of the march.

“Other candidates like McCain I wouldn’t worry about so much, but (Trump) has so many entanglements, it’s just huge,” Schulberg said. “He’s changed his mind so much, I don’t think anyone should take his word for anything.”

A long line of marchers walk towards the Downtown Naples Post Office during the Tax March on Saturday, April 15, 2017 in Downtown Naples. The rally began with participants marching down 8th Ave, across 3rd Street, up 5th Avenue and to the Downtown Naples Post Office to drop off postcards which were addressed to the President, asking for the release of his tax returns.

The rally was centered on Trump’s tax returns but also meant to demand greater transparency from the White House in general, he said.

“They’ve stopped publishing the people who come and go to the White House, or to Mar-a-Lago or to Trump Tower,” Schulberg said. “We need the White House to be more transparent.”

The march was organized by Collier Freedom Inc., which has held multiple marches in the Naples area since Trump was elected.

More:Trump’s tax returns will be immediately under audit

Cynthia Odierna and K.C. Schulberg lead the march and chant during the Tax March on Saturday, April 15, 2017 in Downtown Naples. The rally began with participants marching down 8th Ave, across 3rd Street, up 5th Avenue and to the Downtown Naples Post Office to drop off postcards which were addressed to the President, asking for the release of his tax returns.

“We deserve to know if he owes people money,” said Karynn Cavero, an organizer with Collier Freedom. “We want to see if 45 is putting the interests of his businesses first or the interests of the American people.”