Clueless DC protesters hit Americans for Tax Reform

By Kerry Picket
Published on October 13, 2011, 11:32PM



Occupy DC protesters took their anger out on Americans for Tax Reform president Grover Norquist by protesting in front of the Washington D.C. non-profit's 12th street office on early Thursday evening. DC's Metropolitan Police cruisers stood nearby as demonstrators chanted, "Occupy Wall Street. Occupy K Street. Occupy everywhere and never give it back."

"We are here today to protest against Grover Norquist and Americans for Tax Reform, because they're obstructionists, and they impede the flow of the democratic process. Their philosophy, which has pigeonholed Republican politicians into a corner, and say that compromise on increasing taxes for anyone--individuals and corporations alike-- is unacceptable in their minds," said the Occupy DC organizer to his fellow protesters.

"We say, that in a democracy you can't have these rigid ideologies. What you must do...we must come together as a country to real solutions that everyone can agree to--that when you stick to your ideology to the death, you cause the death of the country. You cause the death of democracy. You cause the death of people's rule," he added.

Many elected Republicans in Congress and GOP lawmakers in various states have signed the Americans for Tax Reform taxpayer protection pledge, which, according to the ATR website:

In the Taxpayer Protection Pledge, candidates and incumbents solemnly bind themselves to oppose any and all tax increases. While ATR has the role of promoting and monitoring the Pledge, the Taxpayer Protection Pledge is actually made to a candidate's constituents, who are entitled to know where candidates stand before sending them to the capitol. Since the Pledge is a prerequisite for many voters, it is considered binding as long as an individual holds the office for which he or she signed the Pledge.

I spoke with one Occupy DC protester who told me that he was not too sure what the protest at Americans for Tax Reform was about, but he wanted to be there in solidarity with other occupy demonstrators.



Occupy DC protesters, like others around the country, are now focused on New York City's move on Occupy Wall Street. The NYC Sanitation Department plans to clean up Zucotti Park, the area in which the Occupy Wall Street demonstrators have set up camp for the past 3 and 1/2 weeks. Occupy DC protesters had their permit extended for another 3 weeks. Although Freedom Plaza does not allow camping, apparently, local DC politicians are letting such an issue slide with the DC protesters.