Protesters push for Trump to release his tax returns

April 15 tax deadline sparks nationwide demonstrations against the U.S. president

WASHINGTON— Some wore shirts with an image of U.S. President Donald Trump as the Monopoly mascot hauling a bag of money. Others taunted the president with signs that said they would show him their taxes, if he showed them his. And in front of a few thousand people on the lawn of the U.S. Capitol there was an oversized inflatable chicken with hair resembling Trump’s, suggesting the president is “too chicken” to release his taxes to the public.

From Seattle to the District of Columbia, protesters gathered in cities across the U.S. on Saturday, calling on Trump to release his personal tax returns as part of a nationwide Tax March. The protest fell on the country’s traditionally recognized deadline to file taxes, April 15.

The main march unfolded in Washington, where protesters gathered for a rally in front of the Capitol and then marched west along Pennsylvania Ave.

In South Florida, activists marched to Trump’s Mar-a-Lago resort, where the president is staying this weekend. Thousands more gathered at a large march in New York City, where activists, comedians and a state senator spoke.

Presidents are not required to release their tax returns but have done so voluntarily since the 1970s. Activists and others say it is the only way to be fully open about any potential conflicts of interest.

Trump has refused to release his tax returns, stating that he has been under audit. Asked for comment Thursday on the Tax March, the White House referred to comments earlier last week from press secretary Sean Spicer, who repeated that Trump is under an IRS audit, but indicated the president has been transparent with his finances.

The non-profit, Electronic Privacy Information Center filed suit in D.C. Federal Court on Saturday over Trump’s tax returns, arguing there is a provision in IRS regulations that allows their release.

Meanwhile, in Berkeley, Calif., hundreds of pro-Trump demonstrators and counterprotesters clashed Saturday at a Patriots’ Day rally. It was the third time the two groups engaged in violent confrontations on city streets in recent months.

Fist fights broke out near Martin Luther King Jr. Civic Center Park, where Trump supporters had scheduled a rally. Fireworks and smoke bombs were thrown into the crowd, and a few demonstrators were doused with pepper spray. Both groups threw rocks and sticks at each other and used a large trash bin as a battering ram as the crowd moved around the perimeter of the park.

Sixteen people were arrested, said Officer Jennifer Coats of the Berkeley Police Department. Nine people were injured, with six taken to a hospital for treatment, including one stabbing victim, she said.

About 250 police officers were deployed to the scene after officials sought assistance from the neighbouring Oakland Police Department.

At one point, a makeshift barrier dividing the rallies snapped and a huge brawl broke out as both sides began punching and kicking each other.

Soon the barrier was re-established and demonstrators once again shouted at each other from a distance.

“You go back to the ’60s,” shouted one man on the pro-Trump side in a live-stream video.

“You go back to the 1400s,” retorted someone on the opposing side. With files from Star wire services