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Modern day Robin Hoods disrupt traffic in financial district chanting "Tax Wall Street and End AIDS".
New York (27 April 2012) - A number of activists with AIDS Coalition to Unleash Power (ACT UP) and Occupy Wall Street, dressed in Robin Hood costumes, were arrested in New York following a protest in the financial district.
These modern Robin Hoods waived placards and chanted "Tax Wall Street and End AIDS" to a number of supportive onlookers.
The protest disrupted traffic as activists formed a human chain in the crosswalk at the New York Stock Exchange. Nine of the protesters were arrested as a result of the action.
ACT UP held demonstrations in Lower Manhattan throughout the day calling for the introduction of a Financial Transactions Tax (commonly called the Robin Hood Tax) to raise funds to address the global AIDS crisis.
The National Union of Public and General Employees is a supporter of the campaign to implement the Robin Hood Tax - a 0.05% (1/20th of 1%) tax on financial transactions, one that campaigners believe could generate $400 billion a year.
Funds from the tax would be used to pay for the social costs of the economic crisis, to fight global poverty, to meet global public needs such as health care and to mitigate and adapt to the impact of climate change.
It would also contribute to greater stability within the financial system by reducing speculation and excessive liquidity.
More information:
Robinhoodtax.ca and on Facebook
NUPGE
The National Union of Public and General Employees (NUPGE) is one of Canada's largest labour organizations with over 340,000 members. Our mission is to improve the lives of working families and to build a stronger Canada by ensuring our common wealth is used for the common good. NUPGE