Letter of Explanation
April 2004
Dear friends,
Linked below is a statement of support for those who refused to pay for war against Iraq and continued military aggression by the U.S. government. We ask you to read it and consider adding your name to it.
Our intentions for this statement/appeal are threefold: to support those who, for reasons of conscience, already are refusing to pay taxes used for war-making; to encourage others to consider refusing to pay war taxes; and to provide yet another, hopefully potent, voice of opposition to war.
The appeal was written before the war, and the wording has been adjusted as we continue to protest the use of U.S. tax dollars for violence and war. Because of the likelihood of more U.S.-initiated wars against other countries, “Refusing to Pay for War on Iraq” in the title has been changed to read “Refusing to Pay for War.” For those who have already signed the appeal, we trust that minor changes to the wording will not be a problem as we don't want to have to go back to each signer as a result of these minor changes.
Finally, we very much need your help with this project.
- Please mail, e-mail, or otherwise distribute copies of this appeal to any individuals or groups who are likely to be sympathetic and willing to sign on.
- Try to enlist as signers any individuals or groups you know whose names or affiliations would be recognized and respected by others (e.g., a bishop or other well-known clergyperson, a religious order or community, a noted author, artist, labor leader, teacher, politician, or head of a respected organization).
- Publicize this appeal, including a partial list of signers that includes the names of prominent people or groups (in your area and/or nationally), in any newspapers, magazines, journals, or newsletters you read or subscribe to.
Many thanks for your help, and for considering signing the appeal yourself!
Please send signed copies back to the National War Tax Resistance Coordinating Committee at PO Box 150553, Brooklyn, NY, 11215, or sign online. At this point we have over 900 signers to the appeal, and we will keep you posted as to numbers of signers, as well as the names of prominent individuals and groups who have signed the appeal.
In peace,
Ruth Benn
Coordinator, National War Tax Resistance Coordinating Committee
Randy Kehler
Colrain, MA
If you agree with this statement and would like to be included among the signers, contact us at wrl@warresisters.org.