Yes, You Can Do This!

I got on a bus to DC for the “Arrest Netanyahu” rally and march July 24, with a pile of WRL pie charts in my backpack and a sign about refusing to pay for war. I hadn’t been to DC in quite a few years, but Congress’s invitation to the person presiding over more than 40,000 deaths in Gaza — and counting — demanded a large protest. In addition, the anger over U.S. complicity in the killing with U.S. weapons and money is fertile ground for promoting war tax resistance.

Photo by Ann Fawcett Ambia.

Soon I was standing at the rally on Pennsylvania Avenue facing the Capitol. I looked to my right and there was Kathy Boylan of the local Catholic Worker house sitting on the side of a big cement planter handing a NWTRCC newsletter to someone. Taking advantage of Kathy’s excellent location where it was easy to catch the attention of protesters making their way to the rally I joined her to hand out pie chart flyers. Along with having a good visit, we got information into the hands of a lot of distressed taxpayers. One woman stopped to ask “can you really do this?” She said that so far she had written a message on her check to the IRS saying “don’t use my money for killing.” It’s a start!

One young man stopped to tell me that he decided to change his W-4 after looking at the instructions on the NWTRCC website recently. Still a little confused by the W-4 form and formula to increase deductions and reduce withholding, he said that the person in his HR office helped him understand how the deductions work — a useful tip perhaps? As WTR counselors we can at least suggest that a payroll person might explain how the W-4 deductions work; they don’t have to know why an individual wants less withheld.

Joining our message with individuals who maintain an encampment in DC – and make beautiful banners!

The U.S. Campaign for Palestinian Rights was one of the main sponsors of the demonstration and march, and they also organized demonstrations outside the Watergate Hotel where Netanyahu was staying. The Campaign has an interactive map on their website showing how much of the annual $3.8 billion in military funding your state and city pay through federal tax dollars and how it could be used instead. Jewish Voice for Peace was a very obvious presence. JVP had sponsored a banner-drop and sit-in in the capitol rotunda the day before leading to the arrest of more than 300. Their “Jews Say Stop Arming Israel” tee shirts seemed to be everywhere.

So mostly this is a plug for us to not just be satisfied with our own refusal to pay, but to help others get started in this powerful form of resistance. Before the next demonstration, order some literature from NWTRCC or WRL, make a sign, find a nice place in the shade to sit, and stick your arm out.

— Post by Ruth Benn; photos by Ruth Benn unless otherwise noted