WASHINGTON — Organizers say they expect thousands to gather along the National Mall this weekend to call on President Donald Trump to release his tax returns.
The Tax March is set for the date most associated with taxes — April 15.
The Saturday event starts with a noon rally in front of the Capitol, with marchers then going past the Trump International Hotel and winding up at the JFK Hockey Fields, next to the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool. The march route includes Pennsylvania Avenue, 12th Street and Constitution Avenue.
The rally will feature Democratic members of Congress including Maryland Rep. Jamie Raskin, California Rep. Maxine Waters and Oregon Sen. Ron Wyden. In addition to calling on the president to release his tax returns, those taking part will also call on him to scrap any plans for tax cuts that would benefit corporations or the wealthy.
Organizers say similar demonstrations will happen in more than 100 cities across the country Saturday.
National Park Service spokesman Mike Litterst said organizers who applied for a permit in the nation’s capital indicated that about 10,000 people would take part in the event here. He said that while the permit does not call for any road closures, some rolling closures should be expected as the crowd makes its way through the city.
Even larger gatherings are planned for the coming weeks. Litterst said organizers of the March for Science on April 22 applied for a permit saying they expect about 150,000 people. The same estimate was given to the Park Service by organizers of the LGBTQ march set for June 11.
Organizers of an immigration march, which was set for May 6, had also expected a similar number of people, but Litterst said that permit application has been withdrawn. A Facebook page for the event said it will be now be held on May 1.
Many protests fall well short of, or significantly exceed, the organizers’ estimates, which are required as part of the permitting process. Organizers of the Women’s March, held Jan. 21, initially had expected about 200,000 people to take part, but organizers and experts later said they believed about 500,000 people participated.
