Once upon a time, at the ripe age of 28, I found myself in the midst of a small claims court battle against the Oregon Department of Revenue. They believed I owed them money for a period when I was happily living and paying taxes in sunny California. Armed with my Los Angeles apartment lease and my trusty library card, I represented myself and managed to convince them that I was indeed a part-year resident. The result? No more $527 debt hanging over my head—a notable sum considering my paycheck from a stationery store on Melrose Avenue.
Fast forward to today, and it seems people are more interested in hiring “online reputation management” firms to erase any trace of their legal woes, even when the outcome is favorable. Personally, I’ve never felt the need to hide my tax story—after all, I have nothing to conceal. If only the same could be said for the current president of the United States.
On Saturday, April 15, I’ll be participating in the Tax March in my city, part of a nationwide series of protests urging President Trump to disclose his tax returns. My reason for joining this march is intertwined with both local and national politics.
Why Transparency Matters
In almost forty years, President Trump stands alone as the only major-party nominee who has withheld his tax returns. Last year, he claimed he couldn’t release them because he was under audit by the IRS. But let’s be honest—Warren Buffett, the Oracle of Omaha, managed to publish his own returns while facing an audit. Buffett wanted to demonstrate that Trump’s excuse was just that—an excuse.
Recently, investigative journalist David Cay Johnston unearthed Trump’s 2005 tax return and shared it with Rachel Maddow on MSNBC. It showed that Trump significantly lowered his tax bill by applying for a whopping $103 million write-off. Who knows what else lies hidden in his other returns? They could reveal a perpetually low tax rate or even questionable ties to Russia—something he has consistently denied. Whatever the case, Americans deserve transparency.
Community Engagement
On a local level, I’m excited to join my community in this march, especially since it taps into the momentum generated by the Women’s March. The three organizers of our local Tax March—Jake, Mia, and Oliver—are stepping up for the first time to make their voices heard. They are our neighbors and friends, stepping out of their everyday lives to demand accountability from those in power.
The collective desire for the president’s tax returns is not just a local sentiment; it resonates with many. As a member of the diverse Palauan-American community, I stand with the 84% of people of color who believe he should release them. This sentiment is echoed by 94% of Democrats and even 36% of Republicans.
Join the Movement
So, if you think it’s crucial for the president to show us his tax returns, you are already part of this movement—no strings attached. We’ll be marching together on April 15, and I invite you to join us. To find your local Tax March, check out the details at www.taxmarch.org.
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To sum it up, the Tax March is a vital opportunity for us to demand transparency and accountability from our leaders, and it’s a chance for our voices to be heard collectively.