About 400 converge on Arizona Capitol to demand Trump's tax returns

About 400 protesters assembled outside the Arizona Capitol on Saturday morning holding signs and chanting for President Donald Trump to release his tax returns. Similar events were held around the nation to mark Tax Day.

"Tax returns should be released, especially if Donald Trump wants to put to rest any conflicts of interest or collusion to Russia," said Gilbert resident Lauren Ghazikhanian, 31. "I feel he truly believes he is above the law."

Every major party nominee since 1976 has disclosed their tax returns — until Trump, who has repeatedly refused, citing an IRS audit. However, the IRS has said an audit does not prevent Trump from publicly disclosing the records.

"The only one that cares about my tax returns are the reporters," Trump said at a January news conference, USA Today reported. 

In the "Tax March" crowd Saturday, several demonstrators carried signs reading, "I'm not a reporter. I want to see Trump's tax returns." Department of Public Safety officials estimated the crowd at about 400.

Arizona lawmakers, including Rep. Ken Clark, D-Phoenix, and Sen. Juan Mendez, D-Tempe, attended the rally, which included a march around the Capitol grounds.

In February, Mendez introduced a bill that would require presidential candidates to submit five years worth of federal and state income tax returns to the Arizona Secretary of State's Office in order to qualify to be on the state's general election ballot. Republican legislative leaders never allowed it a hearing.

Ghazikhanian said she was frustrated with Republican lawmakers in Arizona who haven't given the matter any air.

"If they truly believe this is an important issue and listen to their constituents, they should ensure the returns are released," she said.

The Arizona rally was one of 150 rallies and marches planned nationwide, USA Today reported. Many organizers and participants said the release of the president's records would show where his financial alliances and financial interests lie.

Mesa resident Jenna McAllister, 39, who established the Facebook event for the march, said she was inspired in January after hearing Trump's comments.

"I honestly think that this election has woken me up, along with millions of other Americans, in the best way. Now we know what we're dealing with and we can move forward," she said. "It doesn't mean that Republicans are bad and Democrats are good; we now have a big picture to work toward the goals that all Americans want."

McAllister said she was surprised to see support that transcended just her friends and resonated with other Arizonans.

"I just hope that he turns on the news today, that he listens to the radio, that he logs into Twitter, and he sees that we're here," she said.

Belinda Dunbar, 66, of Phoenix, held a sign stating, "Taxation Without Representation" and expressed disappointment in seeing a lack of response from lawmakers.

"When they run for office, we can't get them off the phone or out of our mailbox," she said. "Now, when they're in office, they don't want to talk to us. After getting in, they don't care about us."

Dunbar, who discovered the march on Twitter, said she believes the reinvigorated left will sustain its momentum throughout Trump's term.

"I didn't get a chance to demonstrate in the 60s and now that I'm in my 60s, I've been getting involved in politics," she said. "We need to fight and resist. We're bringing people into the fight to show our government what we stand for."

Saturday's march was the latest in a series of demonstrations that have become commonplace in the wake of Trump's election. A day after his inauguration, at least 36,000 protesters attended women's marches across Arizona.

In the weeks that followed, Arizonans have voiced their dissatisfaction with Trump's attempts to repeal the Affordable Care Act, his nomination of now-Supreme Court justice Neil Gorsuch and his temporary travel ban targeting several Muslim-dominant countries.

A "March For Science" in downtown Phoenix is expected to attract Trump dissenters on April 22. Again, an event is being held in Phoenix in conjunction with similar events around the country. The focus is to support public funding for scientific endeavors.