Additional Coverage:
- Protesters are targeting the Hamptons as part of a Labor Day weekend action against billionaires (businessinsider.com)
Hampton’s Billionaires Targeted by “Tax the Rich” Protests
This Labor Day weekend, the playground of the ultra-rich became a stage for protest as activists targeted the Hamptons, bringing their message of wealth inequality directly to the doorsteps of billionaires’ summer homes.
The protests, part of a national “Workers Over Billionaires” campaign, saw demonstrators descend on Sag Harbor’s iconic American Hotel restaurant, disrupting diners with chants of “Tax the Rich.” One protester, captured in a video circulating online, condemned the lavish spending on display while accusing the wealthy of funding a “fascist regime.” Saturday’s actions also included a demonstration at the Hamptons home of hedge fund billionaire Bill Ackman.
Organizers aim to highlight the stark contrast between the opulent lifestyles enjoyed in the Hamptons and the economic anxieties faced by most Americans. They point to the booming multi-million dollar real estate market in the Hamptons as evidence of this disparity, even as the broader economy faces uncertainty.
The protests are intended to be both symbolic and strategic, directly confronting the billionaires who summer in East Hampton while also drawing attention to the flow of money influencing political figures like former New York governor Andrew Cuomo, current New York City mayor Eric Adams, and former President Donald Trump, according to the climate advocacy group Planet Over Profit. The group is also behind the creation of the Department of Class Solidarity, a research initiative tracking the wealth and influence of billionaires across the United States.
This new organization joins a growing network of activist movements, including Tesla Takedown Protests, Purge Palantir, and Stop Billionaires Summer. The Hamptons protests, organizers say, are just the beginning of a sustained campaign to challenge the power of billionaires and redirect resources to workers and communities.