National Nurses United Rally at Daley Plaza to Demand the Robin Hood Tax

Dressed in red uniforms, holding signs, banners and wearing Robin Hood caps, thousands of nurses and supporters filled the Daley Plaza on Friday, May 18 to protest the NATO agenda and urge for the passage of the Robin Hood tax.

The Robin Hood tax is a small tax on financial institutions that would be allocated to public services. According to robinhoodtax.org, this tax on the financial sector has the power to raise hundreds of billions every year to provide funding for jobs to kick start the economy and get America back on its feet.

“We are not protesting today, we are promoting the Robin Hood tax,” said Martha Kuhl, a member of the National Nurses United. “It’s a tiny tax. It’s 50 cents on $100 on financial speculations, on derivatives, stock trade, credit default swamps all those things that cause the problems. Just like you or I pay taxes on the things we buy, we want the big traders to pay a tiny sales tax on the things they buy and sell.”

According to the financial experts, Kuhl added, the Robin Hood tax could amount to as much as $350 billion—money that could be used for public services, health care, education, libraries and all other public programs.

The National Nurses United is one of the biggest rallies so far in anticipation to the NATO summit that will begin on Sunday. The area was strictly barricaded around the sidewalks surrounding the Daley Plaza and the Picasso sculpture.