The March for Billionaires: A Small But Controversial Demonstration in California
Over the weekend, a march in support of California’s billionaires took place in San Francisco, but it failed to attract a large crowd. According to the San Francisco Chronicle, only around three dozen people attended, along with a dozen tongue-in-cheek counter-protesters.
Organized by Derik Kauffman, the event was predicted to have only “a few dozen” participants. Despite the low turnout, the “March for Billionaires” garnered significant attention on social media due to its unusual nature. Mission Local reported that journalists almost outnumbered demonstrators at the march, where signs declaring support for billionaires like Jeffrey Bezos were carried, along with witty messages such as “It’s very difficult to write a nuanced argument on a sign.”
The primary purpose of the demonstration was to protest the Billionaire Tax Act, a proposed state ballot measure that would mandate Californians with a net worth exceeding $1 billion to pay a one-time, 5% tax on their total wealth. Governor Gavin Newsom has stated that if the measure passes, he will veto it.
Kauffman, the founder of AI startup RunRL and not a billionaire himself, expressed his views on California’s policies regarding health care for undocumented immigrants. He stated, “California is, I believe, the only state to give health insurance to people who come into the country illegally. I think we probably should not be providing that.” It’s worth noting that fourteen states offer health care to undocumented immigrants.
