On June 4, just days prior to WWDC, the US Uncut group plans to target Apple retail stores in protest against Apple’s support of the ‘Win America Campaign’ (WAC). The goal of the US Uncut organization is to fight companies that try to avoid taxes, and they are unhappy with what they claim is Apple lobbying Congress for a $4 billion tax cut. The group will be protesting for Apple to leave the WAC, cease such lobbying activities and to refrain from engaging in tax loopholes.
Apple plays huge games with their taxes. By disguising profits in the U.S. as foreign earnings in low-tax countries, Apple dodges billions of dollars of taxes they should be paying. We are all disappointed to see a great company like Apple participate in such a deceitful campaign that violates their commitment to operate in a socially responsible manner
The WAC group, which is supported by a number of other technology conglomerates including Microsoft, Google and Adobe, is currently lobbying Congress for the Freedom Invest Act of 2011 to lower taxes on American companies involved in selling goods and services overseas. The drafters of the bill claim the money companies save from taxes could be re-invested within the country.
Apple is US Uncut’s main target in the demonstrations on June 4th and has put together an “action kit” with signs, leaflets, chants and slogans. The group will even enter Apple Stores and perform a “dance-in flash mob”, audaciously planning to record the result on the Apple computers on display. CNet contacted Apple for comment, but they did not respond. Jump the break for a video from US Uncut campaigning against Apple and the WAC.
[Via CNet]
