Buffett Rule Sparks Protest in Chinatown

The Senate blocked President Obama's proposed Buffett rule Monday afternoon, sparking a protest in Chinatown composed of students and community activists.

If the Buffett rule had passed, Americans earning more than one million dollars per year would have had to pay at least 30 percent in taxes.

Jesus Andrade, a tax activist, says the Buffett rule would have enabled California to prosper.

"I'm no longer interested in just having a budget that's just going to allow California to survive," he said.  "I think it's time now that we have a system that's going to allow our state to thrive once again."

Andrade led a group of approximately 40 people on the corner of Main St. and Alameda in pro-taxpayer chants to rally support among walkers and drivers.

UCLA Urban Planning Master's student Chloe Green works to "redistribute wealth in a more equitable way."  As part of the one percent, Chloe said she feels compelled to support the rights of the 99 percent.

"I come today as a person who has access to wealth and a person who has access to class privilege," said Chloe, "I think people like me should pay higher taxes."

Green and her fellow supporters waved picket signs that read "I love taxpayers" and "Taxes support my college dreams" to attract honks from oncoming traffic. 

Joshua Ham, a junior at Manual Arts Senior High School, came directly from school to use Monday's rally to fight for his education.

"[Wealthy Americans] could take a little bit of stress off people that's in a low income community, that's working two or three jobs, so they can make it," said Ham.

Ham wants corporations that are "comfortable with their wealth" to support him in his educational ventures.

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