Entertainment

Everything you need to know about the Tax Day protests in the US

Including all the best signs on show from demonstrations across the country.
Including all the best signs on show from demonstrations across the country. Including all the best signs on show from demonstrations across the country.

Protesters across the US are taking part in Tax Day demonstrations to call on President Trump to release his tax returns.

Here’s everything you need to know.

Why exactly are people protesting?

Trump
Trump
Trump is currently in Florida (Carolyn Kaster/AP)

Donald Trump is the first major-party nominee in more than 40 years to not release his tax returns, saying it was because he was under audit. He later said that voters don’t care.

Protest organisers say Americans deserve to know about Trump’s business ties and potential conflicts of interest.

The protests are being nicknamed the “Tax March” because April 15 is usually Tax Day ? the final day for individuals to submit their tax returns.

This year, Tuesday April 18 is the deadline because of April 15 falling on a Saturday and Monday’s Emancipation Day holiday in the District of Columbia.

Where are the marches happening?

trump
trump
Demonstrators in New York (Mary Altaffer/AP)

Organisers say they’re taking part in about 150 cities, including Washington, DC where people began with a rally at the US Capitol.

Donald Trump’s motorcade had to avoid protesters in Mar-A-Lago, Florida, after he spent Saturday morning at his golf course and headed toward his Palm Beach estate. Several hundred protesters marched across the bridge that divides West Palm Beach and Palm Beach, chanting and hoisting signs that read “Don the Con,” “Go back to New York,” “Show your taxes!” and “Show me the money!”

Meanwhile, in New York, celebrities such as comedian Sarah Silverman and politicians joined a Tax Day demonstration where protesters planned to march to Trump Tower.

Give us an idea of what the protests are like?

Many of the thousands marching have made some, erm, quite stand-out signs…

Protesters walk during a rally to encourage the release of President Donald Trump's tax returns, Saturday, April 15, 2017, in Palm Beach
Protesters walk during a rally to encourage the release of President Donald Trump's tax returns, Saturday, April 15, 2017, in Palm Beach
Protesters walk during a rally in Palm Beach (Alex Brandon/AP)
sign
sign
Protesters say Americans deserve to know about Trump’s business ties (Mary Altaffer/AP)

Yep, as well as signs, people also wore masks…

Donald Trump
Donald Trump
The demonstration in front of the Trump International Hotel in Washington (Manuel Balce Ceneta/AP)

There seemed to a strong chicken-theme, too…

Jocelyn Chapman, a tax accountant, gathers with protesters at Park Square in Massachusetts (Stephanie Zollshan/AP)
Jocelyn Chapman, a tax accountant, gathers with protesters at Park Square in Massachusetts (Stephanie Zollshan/AP)
Jocelyn Chapman, a tax accountant, gathers with protesters at Park Square in Massachusetts (Stephanie Zollshan/AP)
Protests in New York (Mary Altaffer/AP)
Protests in New York (Mary Altaffer/AP)
Protests in New York (Mary Altaffer/AP)

(Did you spot the chickens on the hat?) What about the response from Democrats about Trump’s decision not release his tax returns?

Democratic Representative Maxine Waters, of California, spoke at a rally at the US Capitol on Saturday before protesters began marching toward the National Mall.She’s one of Trump’s sharpest critics in the White House and said that Democrats and Tax Day protesters “will not be quiet” about his taxes.She added there’s nothing to prevent Trump from releasing his income taxes and that “the simple truth is he’s got a lot to hide”.Meanwhile, Democratic US Senator Elizabeth Warren, of Massachusetts, posted an online video on Friday urging Congress to force Trump to release the returns.And Oregon Democrat Senator Ron Wyden has called on Trump to ‘knock off the secrecy’.” He says the people have “a basic right to know whether the president pays his fair share.”