Tax March Houston Draws Hundreds Against Trump

HOUSTON, TX — They wore green shirts and held signs demanding that President Donald Trump release his income tax records, and they were noisy and organized and unrelenting. It was Tax March Houston, the Bayou City version of protests that took place in a number of cities across the nation on Saturday morning.

"The anti-Trump resistance is strong. We must keep this resistance going," Brian Harrison, of Socialist Alternative, announced to the crowd, which numbered in the hundreds. "If you want to fight back against Trump and fight for socialist policies, please join us."

One group organized a taco breakfast — what's more appropriate for Houston — at a private residence, and before heading to the march participants ate chorizo, egg, and cheese tacos and discussed politics both local and national.

The protesters gathered outside City Hall, and the official festivities kicked off around 10:30.

Gabriella Nissen and Paige Moore told the Houston Chronicle that they had participated in the Women's March in Washington on January 21, and that they were marching again in Houston because Trump's stance was not right. The president has refused to release his tax returns, saying that he is under audit and cannot do so.

"This isn't fair. We're all taking part in our duty to pay taxes and he hasn't proven that he's taking part in his," Moore said. "Just look at the disparity in the wealth that he's generated for himself and refuses to share with the country versus the money that we're working for and contributing to society with."

"I've been upset from the beginning," Nissen said. "It seems like everything he's doing is hurting the citizens of the United States."

The protesters included dogs wearing signs dangling from their collars, and participants yelled their slogans through megaphones.

"He's not divulging his connections," said Greg Broyles. "There's a strong suspicion that he's interconnected to Vladimir Putin — and Putin has blown up Chechens, he's a murderer. Trump is connected."

Ted Cruz also drew the ire of the marchers, and they stopped their march at his offices downtown, a pause designed to demonstrate their opposition to the senator, who has been less than eager to meet constituents.

"Cruz is not representing the citizens of Texas. He needs to go," Theresa San Miguel told the Chronicle. "I was disappointed when he went to the Republican convention and did not endorse Trump, but then he switched his endorsement and said he did."

U.S. Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee, D-Houston, was at the march, and participants listened to her say, "We will not be run and ruled by kings."

Trump, of course, did not attend the march, but a huge "Chicken Don" — an inflatable float designed to resemble the president — stood in for him.

The Tax Marches across the nation —which took place in Washington, D.C., Palm Beach, New York City, Denver, and other cities — were peaceful, though Berkeley's protest did break out in violence.

— Image: Tax March Houston