Brown speaks at city rally

Democratic presidential hopeful Jerry Brown spoke briefly outside City Hall yesterday evening, amidst supporters and demonstrators protesting the government's spending of tax dollars. The former California governor arrived at Dilworth Plaza just after 6 p.m. to cheers of "Jerry! Jerry!" from the partisan crowd. In a brief 10 minute speech, Brown told the crowd, "In the grass roots here we have to work harder . . . because the folks in Washington aren't working hard enough." Brown constantly stressed the theme of "we the people," as part of his campaign to "stop the power of the few." "If there's a job it ought to pay enough to support a family or it's not a real job," he said. Brown discussed his idea for revising the current complex tax code to one flat rate for all citizens. "[I will] make the tax code so simple and clear even an eighth grader could understand it," Brown announced. He added that he wants to protect Social Security and increase federal money for scholarships and work study programs. Brown also responded to allegations of inappropriate conduct at his house while he was governor of California. ABC News reported last week that drug use was prevalent at the Brown house, though they have not accused Brown specifically of using drugs. But Brown said yesterday that the witness ABC News quoted is lying. Brown spoke as part of a tax day rally that started at City Hall and ended at the 30th Street Post Office with other speakers and entertainment. Nearly 500 people marched up Market Street from City Hall to the Post Office in a procession that stretched almost a block. Rally organizer Barbara Smith, executive director of Jobs with Peace, said demonstrations are being held at post offices in over 75 cities "to educate the public about how our tax dollars are spent." "We want [the public] to know that almost 50 cents of every [tax] dollar is going to the military," Smith said. "If we can have jobs in the gulf," Smith added, "We can have jobs in the United States." Over one hundred groups and public officials endorsed the tax day march, Smith said, including Mayor Edward Rendell and almost all of City Council. Smith added that the march is also to show support for the "Save Our Cities, Save Our Children" national march on Washington, D.C. that will take place May 16. Brown led the parade for about half a block before leaving on another campaign trip. The ralliers then marched behind a banner proclaiming, "Save our City, Save our Children." During the 15 block walk to the post office, marchers chanted a number of phrases, ranging from "No housing, no peace" to "Hey hey, ho ho, George Bush has got to go." Many of the ralliers carried homemade signs that had a common theme of diverting tax dollars from defense spending to domestic needs, such as education and housing. "I'm very happy to be here to tell people, 'Don't pay for nuclear weapons and the bombing of Iraq,' " Philadelphia resident Sylvia Metzler said. Metzler, along with other members of the Women's International League for Peace and Freedom, wore a paper dove in her hat to symbolize peace. Among the tax ralliers were a number of Brown supporters who came just to hear the presidential candidate speak. "I came here to listen and learn," 1986 Engineering graduate Ollie Luba said. "I decided to come out on my own and figure it out." Luba said he is trying to decide between voting for Brown or Bill Clinton in the upcoming presidential primary.