Major Protest At Capitol - Grassroots Groups Demand Cuomo Reject Tax Cuts for Millionaires

Photo credit: Paul Buckowski / Times Union

March 2, 2011

Grassroots community leaders from Right to the City, including CAAAV, Community Voices Heard, FUREE, Picture the Homeless, Queers for Economic Justice, and VOCAL-NY held a major protest at the state capitol yesterday. The protest further defined the choice facing Governor Cuomo between tax cuts for millionaires and investing in healthcare, education, safety net programs and other public services ordinary New Yorkers rely on.  About 150 low-income New Yorkers from the five boroughs, Westchester, Newburgh, Poughkieepsie, and Albany rallied while 17 were arrested for blocking entrances on the south side the capitol. Protesters held banners saying "Gov. Cuomo:  People Before Wall Street, No Tax Breaks for Millionaires" and "Cuomo Inc: Fighting for Wall Street Bankers & Landlords."

AP excerpt: "Protest organizer Wanda Hernandez, a board member from the activist group VOCAL New York, said the group opposes cutting social programs and closing hospitals and schools while letting an income tax surcharge on the wealthiest New Yorkers expire after this year. Gloria Wilson, a demonstrator from Community Voices Heard, said protesters want Cuomo to stand strong and resist special interests."

Videos from the action online at http://vimeo.com/album/1544166.

The protest was widely covered in the media, including links below. (The NY1 and Fox23 segments under TV/Video are among the better pieces.)

Newspaper:
Albany Times Union (w/ photo slideshow): http://bit.ly/ifAqDd
Buffalo News: http://bit.ly/dYVGyN
Newsday: http://bit.ly/fT9pJW
AP/Wall Street Journal: http://on.wsj.com/iiEJGf
AP Photo: http://bit.ly/e3Xahc
Gannett: http://bit.ly/f5vzP9

TV / Video:
NY1: http://bit.ly/dNvcbr
12WBNG: http://bit.ly/gt0iBU
WNYT 12: http://bit.ly/hfhixb
Fox23: http://bit.ly/hJ2pUM
MyFoxNY: http://bit.ly/fYQDJg

Radio:
NPR: http://bit.ly/gj5Kob --
North Country Radio: http://bit.ly/gN42vE

Blogs
Daily News / Daily Politis: http://nydn.us/dU0dVz
Politics on the Hudson: http://bit.ly/dTjGaT
Capitol Confidential: http://bit.ly/gGDV2m and http://bit.ly/gWq46c
WNYC/The Empire: http://bit.ly/dTOYkY
Gotham Gazette/The Wonkster: http://bit.ly/fOxeko