Coachella Festival-goers Greeted with a Message to Stop Corporate Greed

While Festival Goers Sang to The Musical Stylings Of Tyler The Creator, Lana Del Rey, And Doja Cat, Valley Families Unite Spent Their Time Chanting One Thing: 

“Stop Giving Tax Breaks To Big Corporations!”

Indio, California –  During the final weekend of the Coachella Music festival, Valley Families Unite (VFU) and Courage California took a stand to hold Congressman Ken Calvert accountable for siding with corporations including Coachella corporate sponsors: Nike, Coca-Cola and American Express, giving them tax breaks by supporting the 2017 Trump Tax Scam.

While festival goers sang to the musical stylings of Tyler the Creator, Lana Del Rey, and Doja Cat, VFU, along with organizing groups, constituents, influencers, and organizers spent their time chanting one thing: “Stop giving tax breaks to big corporations!” 

In 2017, Congressman Ken Calvert voted for the Trump Tax Scam, which gave massive tax cuts to big corporations and wealthy Americans. With parts of the bill set to expire in 2025, a new piece of legislation, H.R. 976,seeks to extend expiring tax breaks for corporations and the ultra-wealthy and make them permanent, and further exacerbates economic disparities hurting Californians.

Amidst concerns over rising inflation and corporate exploitation, Mr. Rigs, “the Corporate Fat Cat” also made an appearance at this weekend's action to emphasize the urgent need for accountability for the massive tax breaks afforded to wealth corporated by the 2017 Trump Tax Law. 

Irene Kao, Executive Director of Courage California and Valley Families Unite said, “After months of planning, Valley Families Unite and Courage California wanted to make one thing clear, ‘it’s time for Congressman Ken Calvert to fight for working families instead of wealthy corporations’. We wanted to use one of the biggest stages in festival history, to spotlight our very own Congressman, and tell him that by opposing this bill, he has an opportunity to demonstrate his commitment to the well-being of working families, rather than prioritizing wealthy corporations.”

Alan Vargas, a CA-41 resident and Coachella attendee and social media influencer, emphasized, "My Congressman has shown time, and time again that he does not stand with constituents like me, but with big corporations. Ken Calvert has given huge tax breaks to corporations like this year's Coachella sponsors, while we struggle to keep a roof over our head and keep food on the table. As an influencer, I know that I could be enjoying the Coachella festival with my other content creators, but I think it’s important to also use my platform to hold Congressmen like Ken Calvert accountable and encourage them to stop supporting big corporations, and instead prioritize working people like me and the thousands that live here. Coachella might only be for a weekend, but the impact of Ken Calvert’s votes will have a long lasting impact on my community.”   

For media inquiries or further information, please reach out to Mario Vasquez Zuniga at 661-483-4927 or mario@valleyfamiliesunite.org.

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Valley Families Unite represents a shared vision of economic prosperity for working families and accountable leadership in California. With the collective strength of Courage California, Inland Empire United, Communities for a New California Action Fund and Lower Costs California, we are eager to hold our elected officials accountable for fighting for the economic well-being of California families.