Tax Protestors Rally
A large number of local residents showed up at the Marion Post Office Monday afternoon to mail off their completed income tax forms before the midnight deadline.
By the 4:30 p.m., the line of cars waiting to enter the post office’s front parking lot stretched out into South Garden Street.
But some people did not go quietly to the post office.
About a dozen local residents who are members of the N.C. Citizens for a
Sound Economy (CSE) held a “Tax Day Protest” outside the Marion Post Office. This local demonstration was part of a statewide protest by CSE against higher taxes and in favor of less government.
Many of the people who drove through the parking lot of the post office along South Main Street honked their horns to show their support.
“We’re getting a lot of honks because we have got a sign that says honk your horn if your taxes are too high,” said Shirley Washburn, a member of the CSE. Washburn is also president of the Upper Catawba River Landowners Alliance.
She and 10 other members of the CSE stood in front of the post office from 11 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. and from 4 to 5:30 p.m. to show their disapproval of higher taxes and their support for less government.
“If you are tired of high taxes and big government taking your hard-earned money, we urge you to join N.C. CSE on Monday, April 15 to protest tax increases and to hold your elected officials accountable,” read a statement from N.C. Citizens for a Sound Economy.
The CSE is in favor of a choice in health care and annexation rights. The CSE is opposed to a lottery for North Carolina.
The protesters also handed out fliers to pedestrians and people leaving the post office. The fliers contained information about of the Third Annual CSE Day scheduled for June 5 in Raleigh. This event will include a barbecue and fried chicken luncheon. Members of the CSE will meet with state legislators to discuss lower taxes and the protection of private property rights. An ice cream social and an awards ceremony will be included.
The protesters standing on the sidewalk along South Main Street said they plan to attend this event in the state capital. In addition to lower taxes, the N.C. CSE is an advocate for property rights and has become involved in the issue concerning proposed buffer regulations for the Catawba River basin, they added.
“They are for property rights and are for minimum government and an accountability in how the government spends our money,” said Dawn Dreibus.
The CSE members who staged the protest Monday said they were pleased with the responses they had received from people at the post office, many of whom had just mailed off their completed tax forms to the federal and state governments.
“It’s been successful and we want to see a change in McDowell County,” said Devone Boyd.
