TFT Archives

About 400 people attended the rally on the capitol steps on Wednesday, November 3.  The rally was organized by several different organizations that all support reform.  TFT was there in force along with our many coalition partners and allies.  TFT members wore stickers that read "Fair Taxes NOT Food Taxes.  Other groups brought out different perspectives and reasons for supporting tax reform.

After the Governor spoke, each organization got up and stated it,s support for tax reform.  As TFT board member Anne Hablas got up and spoke for TFT, she unfurled two lists.  The first was a list of 50+ supporting organizations.  She declared, "These are the groups that support tax reform.  Then for comparison, she held up a list of four organizations that oppose tax reform.  The comparison brought laughter from many in the audience while sending a powerful message.

Ruth Martin, with TFT member group Tenn. Conference on Social Welfare, donned the M.T. Plate costume at the rally to the cheering support of many.  Ruth commented afterwards, "When I put on the costume, I never thought about all the interviews I would have to do."  Many of the papers and TV snapped pictures and asked Ruth about the plate and it,s message.  Two Nashville TV stations aired full interviews with Ruth and the third station showed the plate in it,s footage.  As well, a photograph of M.T. Plate appeared in The Tennessean, the Knox News-Sentinel, and other papers along with a full article.

By using this powerful visual a 6, diameter plate with fork and knife declaring, "M.T. Plate Sez - Take the Tax Off Food, TFT successfully brought the focus of the debate back to the injustice of the food tax.  All to often, the debate is couched in terms of the income tax.  In fact, at a meeting with a newspaper editor two days later, the editor said, "So, your here to talk about the income tax."  TFT member Paul Bartolini quickly corrected him, "We're here to talk about tax refrom."

Joyce Judge with the National Alliance for the Mentally Ill, a TFT member group, joined others in stating how motivating it was to see that rally come off so successful.  Simply put, the rally was a great success.