A small group of pro-wealth activists clashed with socialist demonstrators Saturday over California’s proposed “billionaire’s tax,” as dueling protests performed out on the streets of San Francisco.
The rally, dubbed the “March for Billionaires,” drew supporters of the state’s ultra-wealthy residents, who’re within the crosshairs of a proposal that will power them handy over 5 % of their web value to California every year.
Organizer Derik Kauffman mentioned many onlookers assumed the march was a joke, given it was staged in ultra-liberal San Francisco.
“Vilifying billionaires is widespread. Dropping them is dear,” reads a message on the occasion’s official web site.
“California advantages enormously when entrepreneurs select to construct right here. We’re at present watching them depart.”
Kauffman, co-founder of AI startup RunRL, informed The California Submit the group had two targets, to advertise the worth billionaires carry to the economic system and to oppose the proposed wealth tax.
He pressured he was not performing on behalf of the super-rich and mentioned he had not obtained funding from billionaires.
However the march, which started at 11 a.m. Saturday at Alta Plaza Park in Pacific Heights and continued to the Civic Middle, was rapidly outnumbered by well-organized counter-protesters, who shouted chants of “billionaire brown-nosers.”
Counter-protesters handed out faux treats named after Elon Musk and Jeff Bezos. “How’d it style?” one demonstrator shouted.
March organizers responded with their very own chant, “Should you eat the wealthy right now, there’ll be nobody left to pay.”
Among the many counter-protesters was Razelle Swimmer, dressed because the Swedish Chef from The Muppets, who described herself as a “protest artist.”
“I noticed a possibility to spotlight the absurdity of the sincerity of those individuals who in some way suppose billionaires want assist, when actually they’ve used our assist to hoard our assets,” she mentioned.
“We’re standing up for what is just not precisely a well-liked group round right here,” he mentioned.
“Bernie Sanders has mentioned he doesn’t suppose anybody ought to be a billionaire,” Kauffman added. “I believe everybody ought to be a billionaire.”
Organizer of the march, Derik Kauffman, mentioned many assumed the march was a ”joke” because it was being carried out in ultra-liberal San Francisco
“Vilifying billionaires is widespread. Dropping them is dear,” reads a message on the occasion’s official web site.
Observe The Submit’s protection of California’s wealth tax
“California advantages enormously when entrepreneurs select to construct right here. We’re at present watching them depart.”
Kauffman — cofounder of the AI startup RunRL — informed The California Submit the group had two targets, spreading the message in regards to the ”worth” billionaires have for the economic system and likewise to argue in opposition to a brand new tax.
He mentioned he isn’t performing on behalf of the super-rich and hasn’t obtained any funding from billionaires personally.
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When the march, which started at 11 a.m. Saturday at Alta Plaza Park in Pacific Heights and continued to the Civic Middle, have been far outnumbered by well-organized counter-protesters shouting ”billionaire brown-nosers.”
Kauffman took concern with Service Staff Worldwide Union paying signature gatherers, a standard tactic on all sides of California politics to place measures on the statewide poll.
“We’re standing up for what is just not precisely a well-liked group round right here,” he mentioned.
“Bernie Sanders has mentioned he doesn’t suppose anybody ought to be a billionaire,” Kauffman mentioned. “I believe everybody ought to be a billionaire.”
