Washington, D.C., Teamsters joined hundreds who rallied today in Lafayette Square Park this afternoon to call for a tax on Wall Street.
Nurses, teachers, students and union members gathered in the park between the White House and the
They chanted, “Tax Wall Street. Heal Main Street!”
Sen. Tom Harkin (D-Iowa) and Rep. Peter DeFazio (D-Ore.) introduced legislation this week that would place a 0.03 percent tax on financial transactions to raise $350 billion for good jobs and economic security for all Americans. The Teamsters officially support the bill.
Wall Street is currently experiencing record profits, after receiving trillions in bailout money following the economic crash that was caused by their reckless financial speculation. Rally-goers pointed out that there's a tax on everything from gas to groceries to appliances, but no tax on Wall Street transactions.
Terry O’Neill, president of the National Organization for Women, told the crowd:
“If you want balance, tax Wall Street. We are the 99 percent!”Bruce Smith, a retired Teamster and NEA member, came to the rally with concerns for his retirement, his family and future generations:
Banks collapse and take their losses out of the retirement and health care of working people. Now they’re getting richer, and should pay their fair share.Maureen Healy came from Brockton, Mass., on a bus with her fellow nurses:
I’m here because I am one of the nurses trying to heal America. There is a financial tax in Europe and in countries around the world. We should have that here too. We are here to support Main Street.Sign the petition to support the Wall Street tax. Follow it on Twitter: #TaxWallStreet.
