On Tuesday, hundreds of worker
s, students, children, parents and various community groups protested the tax loopholes and tax dodging that aids the 1% at the expense of 99% with a dodge ball game at Comcast Plaza.
Fight for Philly members played a friendly dodge ball game poking fun at Comcast who dodges taxes every year. The game was commenced by the smug Mr. 1% and participants wasted little time pelting him with dodge balls laced with messages like “Close Loopholes” and “Pay Your Fair Share.” From that moment on, dodge balls flew from every direction, making it nearly impossible to escape their paths. Folks had fun expressing their frustration with our unfair tax system, but didn’t forget about the serious issues at play.
“Corporations in Philadelphia are making millions off the 99%, and profiting at our communities’ loss,’ said Marvin Robinson of West Philly. “They are hoarding hundreds of millions that should go to keeping schools open, caring for our elders and putting Philadelphia back to work.”
Comcast is one of the largest companies in Pennsylvania to abuse the Delaware Tax Loopholes, which allow companies to avoid paying millions of dollars in taxes every year. The estimated loss revenue that could be used to help fund Pennsylvania education and social programs is around $550 million dollars. Further, more than 70 percent of corporations in Pennsylvania do not pay any income taxes.
Governor Corbett continuously chooses to protect tax loop holes and benefits that favor the 1%. While Big Businesses are profiting off the middle class and working class families, Pennsylvanians are facing deep cuts to education, healthcare, and other programs that help the less fortunate.
Protestors also made way to Senator Toomey’s office to show their discontent with the Senator’s stance on the Buffet Rule, which was vetoed in Congress the day before. The law would have reduced tax inequality between America’s 1% and America’s 99%. The plan would apply a minimum 30% income tax to individuals earning more than million dollars a year.
“Senator Toomey needs to represent people like us, not corporations. He should focus on creating jobs here and putting money in people’s pockets right now,” said Matt Wah, a Northeast Philly resident. “We need to end tax breaks for millionaires and big corporations.”