Tax Day marches, strikes, and resistance

NWTRCC has some shirts with TAX STRIKE NOW! and the War Resisters League website printed on them for sale – $12.

The next five days will be filled with marches, rallies, and strikes against military spending and Trump’s secrecy around his tax returns. April 15 is the Tax March in Washington, DC and around the country, while April 18 is Tax Day. Equally important, many events will mourn lives lost in Yemen, Syria, Afghanistan, and other war zones, and call for truly humanitarian aid and an end to armed conflict. War tax resisters are a key part of these effort. (Read NWTRCC’s Tax Day press release for more.)

Here are just a few of the great events war tax resisters will be at over the next few days. If you don’t see your town listed, see Tax Day Actions for a complete list, contact us with details about any event you’re planning in your town, or join our Facebook event.

  • This week, people have been fasting to bring attention to the famine and suffering in Yemen – war tax resisters are part of the fast and part of the demonstrations. Although as this blog post goes up, CODEPINK’s events on April 13 are wrapping up, this cause will continue to be important.  For more, see CODEPINK.
  • several dessert pies on a table with a sign that says WAR TAX above them. in the background, someone cutting a pie.Tonight from 6 to 8 PM is Denver’s Warm Cookies of the Revolution (Facebook event): “Come enjoy slices of pizza, yummy pies á la mode, and learn all about where your tax dollars go and what kind of say you have in the process. Program includes NWTRCC network counselor Shirley Whiteside from Denver War Tax Boycott, who will explain the reasons and process for not paying for war. We’ll also explore Participatory Budgeting and creating your own version of our budgets (including a make your own budget button machine). As always we have delicious cookies, Spanish/English interpretation, and childcare (if requested). $5 suggested donation (no one is turned away for lack of funds). Follow the links for all the details.”

This Saturday, April 15:

  • San Diego: Anne Barron will speak at the Tax March San Diego and hold a war tax resistance workshop following the Tax March.
  • Eugene, OR: war tax resisters are part of Eugene’s Tax Justice March.
  • Bay Area: war tax resisters are leafleting about W-4 resistance at the San Francisco Tax March. In the evening, join resisters in Berkeley for the People’s Life Fund grant ceremony.
  • Boston: New England War Tax Resistance is a sponsor of the Tax March in Cambridge.
  • Maine: Multiple cities are tabling about war tax resistance: Bangor Federal Building (2 pm – 4 pm); Belfast Food Coop (11 am – 5 pm); Bethel Post Office (10 am – 12:30 pm), sponsored by Take Action Bethel; Blue Hill Food Coop (Noon – 2 pm) and Brunswick Post Office (11 am – 1 pm).  April 15-16Rome Youth Activism Gathering (all weekend). Contact Maine WTR Resource Center or by Email or (207) 221-2818.

April 17-18:

  • Austin, TX: Monday, April 17, 6 – 8 pm, weather permitting. Vote for your budget priorities at the annual Human Penny Poll, 2nd Street and Lavaca Street near the Willie Nelson statue. Contact Susan at (512) 467-2946 or email for more information.
  • Chicago: Tuesday, April 18, 11:00 am–1:00 p.m. Rally with speakers and leafleting at  Federal Plaza in downtown Chicago. Join us and participate in the new, improved “penny” poll using “democracy dollars” to show where you want your money to go. Contact Chicago War Resisters Support Group, (773) 324-0654.
  • South Bend, IN: Monday, April 17, 4:30 p.m. Vigil with signs demanding “Divest from War, Invest in People” outside the Federal Building. Contact Michiana War Tax Refusers.
  • Tucson: Tuesday, April 18, 7 a.m.–8 a.m. Tax Day vigil at Raytheon Missile Systems, Hermans Road entrance to the plant (3rd traffic light south of Valencia on Nogales Highway, the extension of South 6th Avenue).  Join the Raytheon Peacemakers as we demonstrate against war and those who profit from it.  Survival demands better ideas, not better weapons. Park off Nogales Highway, between railroad tracks and highway at the Hermans Road entrance.  Signs provided, or bring your own! Contact Nuclear Resister or (520) 323-8697.

Didn’t see your town? Check out our complete list of Tax Day actions focusing on military spending and war tax resistance.

Post by Erica