The streets of Los Angeles were filled December 9 as community organizers spoke out against the new GOP tax bill that will only do two things: rob from the poor and feed the rich. If it were to become law, the Senate tax plan would be a trillion-dollar giveaway to the capitalist class and would dramatically widen inequality between the working class and rich. To become law, the Senate bill must be reconciled with the House version, which is not a done deal. Thus, grassroots struggle has the very real ability to kill this pro-rich bill for this legislative cycle.
On Dec. 9, the Los Angeles community along with progressive organizations such as People’s Congress of Resistance, ANSWER Coalition, KmB Pro-people Youth Los Angeles, California Latinas for Reproductive Justice and many more took the streets of downtown Los Angeles to speak out against the new tax plan. The speakout was multi-generational, multi-national and triumphantly hopeful and energetic.
Residents and drivers leaned out of passing cars to high-five, hug, and support the speak out as the people chanted “Tax the rich, feed the poor, this is class war” as they rallied at Pershing Square in downtown Los Angeles. Multiple speeches also called for deep and sweeping political-social changes, led by and for the people and extending far beyond the Democratic party which known as the ‘fake resistance’ to the community. Liberation News spoke with those that participated in the speakout.
“We need to stand up and fight for reproductive rights for those most marginalized” said Edna, chapter leader of California Latinas for Reproductive Justice.
JP, a restaurant worker, and community organizer with KmB Pro-people Youth-Los Angeles expressed their dismay at the tax plan’s attack on the working class. “We stand against this GOP tax plan- the youth of KmB will refuse to stand by as the ruling class once again use their power to divide the working class”
Labor union organizer Carolyn connected the reactionary Trump agenda to years of policies that attack the working class. No one in Congress or the White House will ever push forward a bill for the people!
University of Southern California student activist, Kameron, an organizer with Students for Justice in Palestine, touched on how the cost of tuition goes up every year.
In addition, this tax plan will make it harder for millions of students who want to continue their education. A huge issue for graduate students is a provision which would treat tuition waivers as taxable income. Many graduate students receive tuition waivers as part of their compensation for teacher or research duties. However, the tuition money is money that these students never actually see. By calling this tuition money taxable income, graduate students are essentially seeing a massive increase in taxes with no real increase in income.
Supporters of the protest and the progressive organizations working with the community have decisively broken with the millionaires club known as the U.S. Congress. Only a genuine grassroots movement built by the people themselves in the streets could have the potential to beat these attacks on the working class. It is the people who will defend and protect them, and it is the people who will continue to organize and agitate for far more substantial, conclusive and permanent justice for the working class!
