Across the country —from Palo Alto to El Paso, Maine to Miami—nurses and other activists rallied today in the late winter sun to lobby Congressional lawmakers for a tax on Wall Street’s riskiest transactions.

Minnesota nurses came out to support the Robin Hood Tax at St. Paul office of Rep. Betty McCollum

With placards, bullhorns and banners that asked “How do we cure economic inequality and heal America?” scores of RNs with National Nurses United took to the streets in 25 cities bedecked, appropriately enough in bright red smocks, and green archery caps—the colors of Robin Hood—joining scores of other supporters of the Inclusive Prosperity Act re-introduced last month by Representative Keith Ellison (D-Minnesota). “Pass the Robin Hood Tax HR 1464,” was the response.

Health GAP and Vocal NY turned out at the New York City vigil at office of Rep. Charles Rangel

Economists believe the legislation would raise between $300 and $350 billion annually, by adding a nickel sales tax to every $10 traded in Wall Street stock trades, with lesser amounts for speculative trades of currencies, derivatives and other financial transactions.

VA nurses hold vigil in Atlanta outside office of Rep. John Lewis

Supported by National Nurses United and more than 170 other national organizations representing millions of trade union members, religious groups, environmentalists, politicians, anti-poverty activists, clerics and health advocates the Robin Hood tax could close any number of gaping holes in America’s social safety net. Just a short list includes the funds needed for guaranteeing healthcare for all, eradicating HIV/AIDS, real action on climate change, building affordable housing, creating good jobs with decent wages, relieving students of their student loan debt, or even, by some estimates, ending poverty altogether.

Nurses and Allies in Texas at Beto O'Rourk's office

Today’s nationwide rallies followed the 47th anniversary since the assassination of the Reverend Martin Luther King Jr., whose calls for a more just America, and a Beloved Community, are consistent with the proposal for a Robin Hood Tax. A budget, King often said, is a moral document; starved by the politics of austerity for far too long, America’s working classes and poor are overdue for replenishment.

Friends of Earth, ATU and Food and Water Watch  and nurses in Maryland office of Rep. Chris Van Hollen

Nurses held a wide variety of signs that pleaded for passage of the tax, some adorned with photographs of King. In El Paso RNs Luis Velez and Sylvia Searfoss crowded into the office of Congressman Beto O'Rourke, holding a sign emblazoned with King’s image, and quoting him saying: “This is America’s opportunity to bridge the gulf between the haves and the have-nots. The question is whether we have the will.”

Rep. Mark De Saulnier dons the green cap in Walnut Creek, Ca.

In San Diego, a nurse held a sign that read simply: Help Students Find Affordable Housing.” In Waterville, Maine, California Nurses Association/National Nurses Organizing Committee Co-President Cokie Giles held a sign that read “Health Care for All” and “Good Jobs;” In Walnut Creek, nurses held signs that read: “Water for All” “Help Veterans” and “Help the Homeless..” Massachusetts nurses joined with activists from Progressive Democrats of America to hold a vigil in the Springfield, office of Rep. Richard Neal, and Michigan RNs rallied with their allies in Ypsilanti and met with staff of Rep. Debbie Dingell urging her to support HR 1464.

Students in San Jose, Ca support Robin at office of Rep. Anna Echoo

“Inequality in health, rampant hunger, homelessness and poverty continue to devastate far too many families,” said Registered Nurse Deborah Burger, an NNU co-president. “The climate crisis puts our planet at risk and is rapidly accelerating extreme weather events, droughts, and epidemics that threaten public health. We need the Robin Hood Tax, best embodied in Rep. Ellison’s bill, to raise the revenues we desperately need to protect our health, our families, our communities, and our nation,”

Students with SGAC outside the offices of Rep Capuano

While most Americans pay as much as a 7 percent tax on everything from shoes, to appliances to automobiles, Wall Street currently pays no tax on stock trades, derivatives and other speculative instruments. With its relatively small surcharge, the Inclusive Property Act would exempt households with adjusted gross incomes under $75,000; nor would the fee apply to ordinary consumer activity, such as credit card or ATM transactions, checking accounts, personal loans or tax free municipal bonds.

PDA joined Massachusetts nurses at Springfield, MA office of Rep. Richard Neal