2011 War Tax Boycott

A People’s Campaign to Defund War

If you don't believe in it, don't pay for it.

The War Tax Boycott campaign unites taxpayers who oppose endless war in a powerful act of nonviolent civil disobedience — saying NO! to war with our money. No to the continuing war and occupation of Iraq. No to the war in Afghanistan. No to drone attacks and increased fighting in Pakistan. No to billions more dollars buying thousands more deaths and injuries, both military and civilian. All around us—in the U.S. and around the world—there are people and programs that could benefit from a tiny percentage of the money that is spent by all governments on war.

As signers to the War Tax Boycott, we have decided we cannot wait for governments to end war. We are cutting off our individual connection to war by refusing some or all of the federal tax dollars that fund war. Some of us are living on low incomes so as not to pay for war. Some of us are refusing $100 in protest. Some of us are refusing 100% of any federal income taxes owed.

Thousands of individuals in the U.S. take this stand despite the risks. Uniting our voices and actions through the War Tax Boycott strengthens our demand that the U.S. government cut off the funds for war and redirect resources to the pressing needs of people. And if the government won't cut off the funds, we will.

The War Tax Boycott was initiated in September 2007 by the National War Tax Resistance Coordinating Committee (NWTRCC) and is endorsed by Voices for Creative Nonviolence, War Resisters League, Think Outside The Bomb National Tour 2010, and the Maine WTR Resource Center. The War Tax Boycott campaign is also supported by the National Campaign for Nonviolent Resistance, Veterans for Peace, Nonviolent Direct Action Working Group of United for Peace and Justice.

Since 2007 signers to the War Tax Boycott have redirected over $400,000 to humanitarian programs, including medical aid for Katrina survivors, support for Iraqi refugees in Jordan, food banks, programs for the homeless, books for prisoners, environmental projects, peace groups, and hundreds of other nonprofit organizations in the U.S. and around the world.

Withhold from War, Pay for Peace

“Nonviolent direct action seeks to create such a crisis and foster such a tension that a community which has constantly refused to negotiate is forced to confront the issue. It seeks so to dramatize the issue that it can no longer be ignored.

Refusing to pay taxes because of war is an act of civil disobedience, but it also provides the opportunity to use that money for positive, healing, and rebuilding programs. War tax boycott participants are encouraged to plan to redirect their resisted taxes to programs that aid victims of war or provide the services that we wish our tax dollars were supporting.

http://wartaxboycott.org/