Occasionally you see someone refusing to pay taxes as a sort of “breach of contract”-style protest against the government. An Oakland, California hardware store owner is taking such a stand:
“State Senator Don Perata was carjacked less than two blocks away from our store,” said Scott Silvera, who owns Scout Home Hardware at 51st and Telegraph in North Oakland.
Silvera is disturbed that merchants on the block have been robbed at gunpoint.
Last week when a 10-year-old boy was paralyzed during his piano lesson by a stray bullet, the police pursuit ended in front of the hardware store.
In response, Silvera launched a tax protest. He’s not collecting city and state sales taxes unless things change to address crime.
Silvera said he knows his defiance could land him in jail, but he hopes his protest inspires others to do something to make a positive difference in their community.
