GDAMS U.S.: Actions and Events - Global Campaign on Military Spending

GDAMS 2019: List of planned actions and events:

California

Berkeley

Sunday, April 14, 3:00pm. Northern California People’s Life Fund will gather at the BFUU Fellowship Hall (1924 Cedar St., Berkeley—Near North Berkeley BART) and distribute $15,000 in redirected taxes to amazing peace and justice organizations! The program includes a potluck dinner and the Granting Ceremony. For more information see, www.nowartax.org or contact nowartax@riseup.net.

San Diego Area

Saturday, April 13, 9:30am-2pm. Public Hearing by the People on the Immoral Budget & March to the Border. Event begins at Casa Familiar Civic Center (212 W Park, San Ysidro, CA). This event is the last stop on the Emergency Truth & Poverty Tour, Sponsored by the California Poor People’s Campaign. For more information, see the Facebook event page.

Colorado

Colorado Springs

Friday, April 12, 11:45am-1pm. A penny-poll will be hosted downtown at the southwest corner of Pikes Peak and Tejon Street. For more information, contact Mary Sprunger-Froese at firststriketheatre@hotmail.com.

Columbia

Washington DC

May 3-5 – The National War Tax Resistance Coordinating Committee had their National Conference under the theme “Divest the Pentagon – Invest in People”. The program included a report back from a recent Code Pink Delegation to Iran, a workshop on Building a Peace Economy, an Introductory War Tax Resistance Workshop, and more.
Location: St. Stephen & the Incarnation Episcopal Church, 1525 Newton Street NW, Washington, DC 20010.
For more information, here’s a summary of the weekend. See also the flyer and schedule.

Delaware

Wilmington

Monday, April 15, Noon-1pm. Annual Tax Day Military Budget Demonstration at Rodney Square, Central Downtown Wilmington (1000 N Market Street) Meet at the civic center piece. Sponsored by Pacem in Terris Delaware.

Illinois

Chicago

Monday, April 15, 11:00am-1pm. “Don’t Pay Any War Tax Demonstration.” At Federal Plaza on the Corner of Dearborn & Adams. Will include a public act of Civil Disobedience. Sponsored by the War Resister League – Chicago Chapter. For more information, see www.wrlchicago.org .

Indiana

South Bend

Monday, April 15, 4:30-5:30pm. Vigil at Corner of Jefferson and Main – 204 S Main Street. Sponsored by Michiana Peace and Justice Coalition (http://www.michianapeacejustice.net/). For more information, contact Peter Smith at psmith@saintmarys.edu or (574) 532-3720.

Iowa

Des Moines

Monday, April 15, 1:30pm. Rally at the Des Moines Federal Building – 210 Walnut. A petition against taxes for war will be delivered to Senators Ernst and Grassley. Petition can found here. Feel free to sign. Sponsored by Catholic Peace Ministry, Iowa Citizen Action Network, Iowa Peace Network, Methodist Federation of Social Action, Progress Iowa, STAR*PAC and Women’s International League for Peace and Freedom.
Monday, April 15, 6:00-8:00pm. “Tax Justice, Where Should our Taxes Go? Presidential Candidate Forum” at Northwest Community Center (5110 Franklin Ave). Catholic Peace Ministry, Iowa Citizens Action Network, Progress Iowa, Methodist Federation of Social Action, STAR*PAC, and WILPF Des Moines have invited all presidential candidates to answer three questions, one focused on reducing military spending, one on climate crisis priorities, and one on shifting the tax burden to the wealthy. Tulsi Gabbard has committed to being there and Julian Castro will be letting them know. Other candidates have been provided the questions, with the expectation they will respond by video.

Maine

Belfast

Wednesday, April 17, 6:00pm. Free Screening of “An Act of Conscience” at the Belfast Free Library (106 High St.) A post-film discussion will be led by former NWTRCC Administrative Committee member Jason Rawn. Sponsored by Waldo County Peace & Justice (https://www.facebook.com/WaldoPeaceandJustice/). For more information, contact Cathy Mink at (207) 323-5160.

Brunswick

Monday, April 15, 11am-1:00pm. Leafleting outside the Brunswick Post Office. Sponsored by PeaceWorks of Greater Brunswick (www.peaceworksbrunswickme.org/index.html)

Portland

Tuesday, April 16, 4:00pm. Let’s talk taxes! Over Pizza: Presentation, Conversation & Action at Abromson Community Education Center, Room 216. Free and open to the public, to reflect on federal budget and values. Sponsored by Peace Action Maine, with Devon Grayson-Wallace, former FCNL lobbyist and board member of Peace Action Maine. For more information call 207-772-0680 or visit the Facebook event here.

Massachusetts

Boston

Wednesday, April 17, 4:30-8pm. Tax Day March & Rally at Uphams Corner in Dorchester.
About 200 people attended the rally. Speakers included the newly elected Representative Ayanna Pressley, state Senator Jamie Eldridge, peace activists Joseph Gerson, Hyatt Imam, Rev. Vernmon Walker, Kevin Peterson of the New Democracy Coalition, Vignesh Ramachandran, the new Vets for Peace leader, housing activists, and many others. Coalition effort led by Dorchester People for Peace and Massachusetts Peace Action , which included American Friends Service Committee National Alliance of HUD Tenants (NAHT) City Life/Vida Urbana Mass Senior Action Council Vets for Peace The New Democracy Coalition and about 15 other groups.
You can read Joseph Gerson’s speech here

Walpole

April 25, from 5:30 pm to 7:00 pm, the Walpole Peace and Justice Group held a tax day rally as part of the GDAMS, calling for a reduction in military spending and a redirection of those funds to human services. A 40 foot budget banner was displayed, showing where the Federal discretionary budget is spent today. The banner was comprised of colored cloth segments, each proportional in length to the budget category. The vigil took place at the Walpole Common on the corner of Main and West Streets. People are invited to attend for all or any part of the scheduled time. For more info contact info@walpolepeace.org. An article on this action here.

Missouri

St. Louis

Wednesday, April 17, Noon-1pm. Penny Poll and Distribution of WRL Piechart Budget 2020 at 4 South Central Clayton. Sponsored by Women’s International League for Peace and Freedom, & Peace Economy Project. For more information, contact Chrissy Kirchhoefer at 314.660.2300 or outreach@nwtrcc.org.

New Hampshire

Concord & Manchester

Monday April 15. Members of New Hampshire’s office of American Friends Service Committee met with staffers from U.S. Senators Jeanne Shaheen and Maggie Hassan in Manchester, and with Congresswoman Anne McLane Kuster’s District Director in Concord.

New York

Albany

Monday May 6. Women Against War’s “Pathways to Peace Committee” met on the outside steps of the LOB in Albany at noon, standing in conjunction with fellow citizens around the world during the GLOBAL DAYS OF ACTION ON MILITARY SPENDING to draw attention to the pressing need “to push governments to invest money in the sectors of health, education, employment and climate change rather than military.”
A press conference was held at 12:30 at the LOB, to denounce how the billions spent annually in the guise of defense rob government, including NYS, of the capacity to adequately support human needs.
Following the press conference, where Assemblyman Phil Steck was a speaker, protesters moved inside the Capitol to vigil and leaflet on the issue of our militarized budget outside the Assembly Chamber as members arrived.
You can read the full speech that was read here. An article was also published on Times Union (here) and a radio interview to Maureen Aumand on The Focus on Albany Show (here)

New York

Monday April 15, 9:30 to 11:00 am. Peace Action Bay Ridge Tax Day Action: MOVE THE MONEY!!!
Every hour, taxpayers in the United States are paying $8.36 million for Total Cost of Wars Since 2001. Every hour, taxpayers in the United States are paying $2.19 million for nuclear weapons. This is unacceptable!
Distribution of flyers to the neighbors. Location: Fort Hamilton Post Office, 89th St and 5th Avenue, Bay Ridge
For more info: bayridgepeaceaction@yahoo.com; (917) 579-6860 or this link.
Monday April 15, noon to 1 pm. Protest Tax Dollars for War!
In front of the Internal Revenue Service at 290 Duane Street (at Broadway) in lower Manhattan. Protesting tax dollars being spent on U.S. wars and the military and supporting those who openly refuse payment for these wars but, instead, reroute their tax dollars from the IRS to groups promoting peace and supporting human needs. Location: 290 Duane Street, at Broadway (2 blocks north of City Hall). Initiated by: NYC War Resisters League;
Co-sponsors: Brooklyn For Peace; Bronx Peace Action; Code Pink NYC; Granny Peace Brigaade; Kairos Community; NYC Catholic Worker; NYC Democratic Socialists of America Anti-War Working Group; Peace Action New York State; Veterans for Peace/Chapter 34; Facebook event here.
Monday, April 15, Noon-1pm. Vigil and leafleting outside the IRS office in Manhattan, 290 Broadway at Duane Street, across from the Federal Building. War tax redirections may be announced. Info: Sponsored by NYC War Resisters League, NYC Catholic Worker, Kairos Community, Peace Action NYS, Brooklyn For Peace, Veterans for Peace/Chapter 34, CodePink NYC, Raging Grannies, Pax Christi Metro New York, Granny Peace Brigade, Peace Action Bay Ridge, Bronx Peace Action, Samidoun: Palestinian Prisoner Solidarity Network, NYC Democratic Socialists of America Anti-War Working Group, World Can’t Wait. For more information: https://www.facebook.com/events/2350470898539532/ or www.nycwarresisters.org/demonstrations or call (718) 768-7306.
Thursday April 18, 7-9 pm (doors open 6:45 pm). How the Pentagon Robs Our City!
With Bill Hartung, Jan R. Weinberg and Christine Lewis. Discussing how the war economy drains NYC resources, and ways you can get active to turn it around, as well as two active campaigns: “Move the Money” & “Divest from the War Machine.” Then, working groups formed to plan actions.
Location: Brooklyn Friends Meeting Hose, 110 Schermerhorn St, corner of Boerum Place.
Co-sponsors: Brooklyn For Peace, Peace & Social Action Committee of Brooklyn Friends (Quakers), Fort Greene Peace; Granny Peace Brigade; Park Slope United Methodist Church Social Action Committee; Pax Christie Metro New York (list in formation). A summary of the event and pictures on this link. For more info, email bfp@brooklynpeace.org
May 4 – New York: 8:30 am to 5:30 pm: Growing Nuclear Risks in a Changing world: New Thinking and Movement Building International Conference. Initiated by American Friends Service Committee; Campaign for Peace, Disarmament and Common Security; International Peace Bureau; Peace Action (New York and New Jersey); Western States Legal foundation; Peace and Planet; Rosa Luxemburg Stiftung; International Trade Union Confederation. At Judson Memorial Church, 55 Washington Square.
Download the flyer here. Registrations at: bit.ly/may4conference

Oregon

Eugene

Monday, April 15, 3pm. Taxes for Peace Not War, along with Community Alliance of Lane County, 350 Eugene, Oregon Women’s Action for New Directions, & Extinction Rebellion will rally at the old Federal Building at 211 East 7th Ave (location of IRS office). At 4pm they will deliver a signed letter to the IRS. Then they will march to the new Federal building at 405 East 8th Avenue to deliver copies of the letter to federal representative Peter DeFazio and federal Senators, Jeff Merkley and Ron Wyden. The event will include signs, chants, songs, and speeches. People interested in signing the letter, helping to organize the event, or needing more information can call Sue Barnhart at 541-731-1189 or suebarnhart2@gmail.com.

Portland

Monday, April 15, 7:30-9am. Sign-holding on Portland bridges (Burma Shave Style). Meet at E. Burnside and MLK Jr. Blvd. Sponsored by War Resisters League – Portland. For more information, Email: jgrueschow@comcast.net.

Vermont

Brattleboro

Monday, April 15, 10am-3pm. WTR Information Tabling outside of the Brattleboro Food Coop, 2 Main Street. Sponsored by Pioneer Valley War Tax Resistance. For more info, contact Daniel Sicken at 802-387-2798 or dhsicken@yahoo.com.

Washington

Seattle

Monday, April 15, 11:30am-1pm. Leafleting in front of the Federal Building in Downtown Seattle, 915 2nd Ave. Sponsored by the Seattle Anti-War Coalition. (seattleantiwarcoalition.blogspot.com/ https://www.facebook.com/SeattleAntiWarCoalition/)

Wisconsin

Madison

Monday, April 15, Noon-1pm. Peace Vigil in front of the Dane County courthouse in Madison (215 S Hamilton St.). This is collaboration with Madison’s Monday Peace Vigil, which has been hosting a weekly Monday Vigil for Peace for the last 38 years.

Milwaukee

Saturday, April 13, Noon-1pm. Vigil to protest federal tax dollars for war and environmental harm, U.S. Army Reserve, 5130 W. Silver Spring Dr. Sponsored by Milwaukee War Tax Resistance, Casa Maria Catholic Worker, & Peace Action of Wisconsin. For more info, contact Lincoln or Mikel, Casa Maria at usury_sucks@hotmail.com or (414) 344-5745.

List of GCOMS 2019 actions and events, not during the GDAMS 2019 period:

April 4th: Multiple public readings of Dr. Martin Luther King speech: April 4, 2019 will mark the 51^st anniversary of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.’s tragic and untimely assassination, and the 52nd anniversary of his prophetic speech, “Beyond Vietnam: A Time to Break Silence”. United for Peace and Justice encourages you to honor Dr. King’s full legacy by organizing a public reading of the speech in your community. We have prepared a “kit” to help you organize a reading. And you can download some printable posters here. When Dr. King gave this speech, the United States was embroiled in the Vietnam War. The country was in turmoil as peace activists resisted the draft, and anti-war and civil rights protesters took to the streets. King’s speech laid bare the relationship between U.S. wars abroad and the racism and poverty being challenged by the civil rights movement at home. And it was controversial in some parts of the civil rights movement. Dr. King’s words were both precautionary and prophetic, providing both a diagnosis and a cure – “a true revolution of values” – for our society’s gravest illnesses, “the giant triplets of racism, extreme materialism, and militarism.” And they have never been timelier. In his “Beyond Vietnam” speech, Dr. King declared: “A nation that continues year after year to spend more on military defense than on programs of social uplift is approaching spiritual death.” – This year, we join with the Poor People’s Campaign: A National Call for Moral Revival, in working to achieve Dr. King’s “revolution of values”. And we associate ourselves with the upcoming Global Days of Action on Military Spending to demand: “Demilitarize: Invest in People’s Needs!” Click here for more Martin Luther King, Jr. resources. Thanks for all you do for peace and justice! – The UFPJ Coordinating Committee. Read more…

May 23: Screening of documentary Colis Suspect (Suspicious Package) – Premiere at NYC School of Visual Arts (209 E 23rd St209, New York). Colis Suspect (meaning Suspicious Package in French), wants to answer the following question: What’s behind Europe’s Fortress? The documentary, mainly shot in France, focuses on the EU system of borders and migration, as well as the persuasion and influence of the security industry lobby. The film counts with ten interviews with experts in law, migration, security, defense industry and international relations. In addition, our analysis is articulated together with the story of Mohammed, a poet and activist for the rights of the undocumented and a refugee from Sudan living in Paris. The documentary explores how the idea of security has been reformulated in the current context of economic crisis and terrorist alert. Why is Europe fortified? What does it affect and who does it benefit? For more information visit their website and facebook event.

Washington DC

April 2nd, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.: International Peace Movement Conference: “No to NATO, No to war Network, Yes to Peace and Disarmament. Speakers include Reiner Braun, Anna Ochkina, Medea Benjamin and Peter Kuznick. At St. Stephen & the Incarnational Episcopal Church 1525 Newton St., N.W., Washington, DC.
See the agenda here and click on the image to download the full Flyer.

List of past 2018 actions and events:

Arizona

April 16: Action in Tucson, Arizona: Monday, April 16, 10 a.m. – 1 p.m.: Women’s International League for Peace and Freedom & Tucson Raging Grannies will be handing out War Resisters League “Where Your Tax Money Really Goes” Pie charts in front of the Wilmot Library. We and we will be talking to folks as they come and go from the library, and the Raging Grannies plan on singing a few songs at noon. Murphy-Wilmot Library, 530 N Wilmot Rd., 85711. You are invited to come for all or part of the time. Bring friends who may be interested. Email for more info: debdivya@gmail.com

Tax day demonstration 2017. Photo by Felice Cohen-Joppa

April 17: Tax Day vigil in Tucson, Arizona: Tuesday, April 17, 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 (mailto:nukeresister@igc.org) or (520) 323-8697 — Contact No. Calif. War Tax Resistance/People’s Life Fund (http://nowar.tax/ ), (510) 842-6124, Email for info: mailto:nowartax@riseup.net

California

April 15: Public Potluck in Berkeley, California: Sunday, April 15, 6 pm — People’s Life Fund public potluck and awards ceremony at the BFUU Fellowship Hall: 1924 Cedar St. Berkeley CA. (Near North Berkeley BART). The People’s Life Fund is looking forward to redirecting a record breaking $65,000 in resisted war taxes to local peace and justice organizations this year! The evening is always a joyous and inspiring evening, and you are encouraged to come out! See the group’s Facebook page for updates and more information: https://www.facebook.com/PeoplesLifeFund

April 17: Bake Sale in San Diego, California: At Noon–2 p.m.: “A Bake Sale for the Air Force?” Hosted by the Peace Resource Center of San Diego envisioning a time when “schools have all the money they need and the air force needs to hold a bake sale to buy a bomber or the Border Patrol a border wall. No time like the present to make this a reality! Join us as we sell baked goods (no money raised will actually be given to the Air Force or to Trump’s wall) and show people just what their federal taxes are buying!! Meet us on the sidewalk outside the Internal Revenue Service, 880 Front Street in San Diego, 92101. More information: https://nwtrcc.org/programs-events/tax-day/tax-day-actions/

Colorado

April 13-16: Flyering in Boulder, Colorado: April 13-16, midday. Flyering on the downtown mall. Look for Gary Erb leafleting with war tax resistance materials. Rocky Mountain Peace & Justice Center, (303) 499-9456 or Email: mailto:gary.erb@colorado.edu

Connecticut

April 14: Rally & Teach-In in Greenwich, Connecticut: The Greenwich Rally & Teach-In for Peace and Economic Justice will be held Saturday, April 14, 11 a.m. – 3 p.m. on Greenwich Common, 290 Greenwich Avenue in Greenwich, Connecticut. “Stop the Wars, Invest in Peace” is the theme, and in this community that is home to 10 multi-billionaires, our 12 speakers will address ways in which war overseas and violence by police in the U.S. undergird the capture and exploitation of material and human resources. Medea Benjamin, human rights activist, author and Co-Director of CODEPINK, will speak about moving money out of the war industry and into peaceful, regenerative work. Please join us!!! – For more information see: https://business.facebook.com/GreenwichRally/?ref=py_c
You may also call Nick Mottern (914) 806-6179

Illinois

April 16: Demonstration in Chicago, Illinois: Monday, April 16, 11 am – 1 pm, Pay No War Tax Demonstration with speakers and leafleting at Federal Plaza, Dearborn + Adams Streets. in downtown Chicago. Participate in the “penny” poll using “democracy dollars” to show where you want your money to go. For more information contact:
Charles Paidock, mailto:cpaidock@hotmail.com (312) 714-7790 or Brad Lyttle, (773) 324-0654, mailto:blyttle@igc.org – Organized by War Resisters League, Chicago Chapter: http://www.wrlchicago.org/

War Resisters League, Chicago Chapter

Indiana

April 16: Vigil in South Bend, Indiana: Monday, April 16, 4:30 – 5:30 p.m. Vigil to catch folks leaving work outside the Federal Building in downtown South Bend. — Contact Michiana War Tax Refusers: mailto:psmith@saintmarys.edu

Louisiana

April 17: Leafleting in New Orleans, Louisiana: Tuesday, April 17. Leafleting with the “where your income tax really goes” pie chart on a busy corner. To check time and exact location contact Pax Christi New Orleans, (504) 522-3751.

Maine

List of Maine actions and events:

The U.S. Maine War Tax Resistance (WTR) Resource Center has begun its annual war tax day actions around the state. The first one was held at the University of New England Career Expo on March 1st and included packets of information for students on the organization’s Youth & Militarism Project, peace jobs for youth, truth in military recruiting and war tax resistance resources. If you are interested in volunteering with the Maine WTR Resource Center and/or the Youth & Militarism Project or would like a presentation on peace jobs for youth at your school, please call 558-5758. For lots of great information go to http://mainewtr.nwtrcc.org and download the pdf with a photo collage – WTR actions taking place around the state (read and download the full document here) during the GDAMS days include:

April 14-16, Rome: WTR table and workshop on Organizing Against Militarism in your Community at Resources for Organizing Social Change’s Youth Activism Gathering, Pine Tree Camp, Rome, ME. Other Maine War Tax Resistance (WTR) actions will also take place around the state, read the whole document here.

April 14, Bethel: at Bethel post office (to be determined). Other Maine War Tax Resistance (WTR) actions will also take place around the state, read the whole document here.

April 14, Damariscotta: from 11am-1pm: Damariscotta post office (PO). Other Maine War Tax Resistance (WTR) actions will also take place around the state, read the whole document here.

April 14, Blue Hill: From 11am-3pm: Blue Hill coop. Other Maine War Tax Resistance (WTR) actions will also take place around the state, read the whole document here.

April 17, Damariscotta: From 11am-1pm: Damariscotta post office (PO). Other Maine War Tax Resistance (WTR) actions will also take place around the state, read the whole document here.

April 17, Portland: From 8am-5pm: Table, noon-1p Downeast band Fire in the Commons and speakers, Lobsterman Park in front of the Nickelodeon Movie Theatre (rain location Portland Media Center, 516 Congress St), Portland. Other Maine War Tax Resistance (WTR) actions will also take place around the state, read the whole document here.

April 17, Farmington: From 10am-2pm: UMaine, Farmington, student union. Other Maine War Tax Resistance (WTR) actions will also take place around the state, read the whole document here.

April 17, Unity: From 11am-1pm: Unity College student union lobby. Other Maine War Tax Resistance (WTR) actions will also take place around the state, read the whole document here.

April 17, Brunswick: From 11am-1pm: Brunswick PO sponsored by PeaceWorks. Other Maine War Tax Resistance (WTR) actions will also take place around the state, read the whole document here.

April 17, Bowdoin: Bowdoin College TBA. Other Maine War Tax Resistance (WTR) actions will also take place around the state, read the whole document here.

April 17, Orono: From 11am-2pm: UMaine, Orono, student union. Other Maine War Tax Resistance (WTR) actions will also take place around the state, read the whole document here.

April 17, Machias: from 11am-1pm: At UMaine, Machias, Torrey Hall next to the library. Other Maine War Tax Resistance (WTR) actions will also take place around the state, read the whole document here.

April 17, Ellsworth: From 11am to 2pm, action at Main St., Ellsworth. Other Maine War Tax Resistance (WTR) actions will also take place around the state, read the whole document here.

April 18, Machias: from 11am-3pm: At UMaine, Machias, Torrey Hall next to the library. Other Maine War Tax Resistance (WTR) actions will also take place around the state, read the whole document here.

April 21, Bangor: From noon to 2pm: Bangor Earth Day (Location TBA). Other Maine War Tax Resistance (WTR) actions will also take place around the state, read the whole document here.

April, dates to be announced: Maine actions in College of the Atlantic; Ellsworth, ME; Norway coop, USM, Lewiston; Augusta. Other Maine War Tax Resistance (WTR) actions will also take place around the state.

Massachusetts

April 14: Boston event on Cambridge Common: Table, Penny Poll, and announced Grants in Boston, Massachusetts: Saturday, April 14, Noon – 2:30 pm — Cambridge Common, Garden St and Massachusetts Ave. President Trump’s tax bill is ensuring billions of dollars in profits to large corporations and peanuts to working people. His Pentagon spending will lead to more wars, kill a lot of people, and make us less safe. Cuts in essential programs from Climate protection to Medicaid, Housing, Social Security and Medicare are in the offing. We must turn around Washington’s budget insanity. Join us on Tax Day to call attention to these dangers while promoting our budget priorities to fund the programs we all need. At AFSC, contact Paul Shannon (mailto:PShannon@afsc.org)- New England War Tax Resistance will have a table, penny poll, and announce grants from resisted taxes alternative fund. Contact NEWTR (mailto:cs4202144@yahoo.com) to participate with them. – — Sponsored by Massachusetts People’s Budget Campaign (https://www.facebook.com/events/570148549988772/), Veterans For Peace – Boston, Smedley D. Butler Brigade, Massachusetts Peace Action (http://masspeaceaction.org/event/tax-day-rally/), American Friends Service Committee. Also, at At the #TaxDay2018 rally in Cambridge, Joseph Gerson of AFSC Peace and Economic Security Program exposed hypocrisy underlying justifications of the US attack on Syria Friday evening. Watch the video!: https://www.facebook.com/masspeaceaction/videos/10155195750185723/

Boston event on Cambridge Common

Download the outreach flyer (4 pp).

American Friends Service Committee

April 14: Tax Day Rally, Walpole, Massachusetts: On Saturday, April 14, 2018, from 10:00 a.m. to 11:30 a.m., the Walpole Peace and Justice Group will hold a Tax Day Rally at the Gazebo on the Walpole Common, asking for Peace and Economic Justice. Rally speakers will address the destructive consequences of exorbitant military spending at the expense of human needs. Our keynote speaker will be Savina Martin, Eastern Chair of the Massachusetts Poor People’s Campaign. A 40-foot budget banner will be displayed, showing where the Federal discretionary budget is spent today. Our keynote speaker and representatives from local organizations will speak at 10:30 a.m. This rally is open to the public. We will be urging our elected leaders to:

– Address the widening gap between rich and poor
– Promote adequate funding for vital human services in the Federal Budget
– Stop the massive increases to the Pentagon Budget
– Halt and reverse the $1.7 trillion nuclear weapons upgrade funding, including “more usable” nuclear weapons
– Revent U.S. wars against Iran, North Korea, China and other nations
– Support immigrant rights and human rights for all
– Oppose the increasing militarization of our borders and law enforcement

The World Is Over-Armed and Peace Is Under-Funded!

Our Rally will support the Global Campaign on Military Spending. The aim of the campaign is to push governments to invest money in the sectors of health, education, employment and climate change rather than military. The Poor People’s Campaign is a National Call for Moral Revival challenging our country on the evils of systemic racism, poverty, the war economy, and ecological devastation. The Campaign will start on Mother’s Day and continue for six weeks of direct action and nonviolent civil disobedience.

The Walpole Peace and Justice Group, founded in 1981, is a group of citizens committed to promoting peace and justice in the community and the larger world through education, study, witness, advocacy, and action. For more information contact info@walpolepeace.org.

April 14: Tax Day Rally and Speak-out in Greenfield, Massachusetts: Local groups plan Tax Day Rally and Speak-out on Federal budget: With taxes due on Tuesday, April 17, rallies are being held around the country highlighting the need to “starve the Pentagon and feed the people.” In Franklin County, people will gather on the Greenfield Common on Saturday, April 14, from 12 to 1:30 p.m. The public event will feature a ‘speak-out’ on the budget from people and organizations working on the many issues affected by current budget priorities – and cuts. “The focus will be on what is needed for real security, at home and abroad, including the need to take urgent action on climate issues” said Anna Gyorgy, active with the Traprock Center for Peace & Justice and FCCPR. The call for the Tax Day Rally and Speak-out remembers the words of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., one year before his assassination: “A nation that continues year after year to spend more money on military defense than on programs of social uplift is approaching spiritual death.” Local groups are responding to the recent tax overhaul bill that benefits the most wealthy, and the FY 2019 federal budget with its record-setting $700+ billion allocation for the military. Organizations that depend on ever-shrinking federal resources are condemning budget priorities that make life even harder for many. – Poster on the web: http://fccpr.us – On Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/events/439652343140034/ – P.O. Box 216 • Greenfield MA 01302 413.624.6557 • info@fccpr.us – For more information, contact: ferdwulkan@gmail.com (413-627-5268)

Minessota

April 15: Rally and March in Minneapolis, Minnesota: At 1:30 p.m. “A Call to End Endless U.S. Wars” rally and march initiated by Minnesota Peace Action Coalition with many co-sponsors including Minnesota War Tax Resisters. Meet at Lagoon and Hennepin in Minneapolis at 1:30; march steps off at 2 p.m. See paying4peace on Facebook; for more info see the Facebook event (https://www.facebook.com/events/162639774457324 ) and visit: https://nwtrcc.org/programs-events/tax-day/tax-day-actions/

New Hampshire

April 17: Portsmouth, New Hampshire: Members of Seacoast Peace Response and Occupy New Hampshire Seacoast braved Sunday’s cold to conduct their annual war tax Penny Poll in Market Square, asking people what they felt were important areas in which to spend federal tax dollars. The Penny Poll asked everyone to choose how they want their tax dollars spent. It used a large display board with containers in which to distribute 10 pennies that are provided by the group. The spending options included veterans’ benefits, environmental protection, transportation, housing, military, nuclear weapons, arts and humanities, agriculture, education and child care, and health care. Look at the photo!

New York

April 17: Signs and flyering in Kingston, New York: Tuesday, April 17, Noon–1 p.m. Cut War Spending — Fund Human Needs. Vigil and flyering during lunch hour with Tin Horn Uprising marching band in front of Congressman Faso’s office, 721 Broadway, Kingston (next to Broadway Lights Diner). Sponsoring organization: Rise Up Hudson Valley. Email Rise Up for more info: mailto:riseuphv@gmail.com – Kingston mail: danielwoodham@hotmail.com

May 3, event in Schenectady: Women Against War, located in the Capital District of New York State in the US, is holding an event in connections with GDAMS. We were encouraged to plan something by a recent speaker, Miriam Pemberton of the Institute for Policy Studies. Location: Central Ave. (Route 5), 500 feet west of Mather Avenue. Read here for more information!

May 3, Albany, NY: Two Billboards Outside Albany, New York. Just like the movie Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri challenged public officials to solve a murder, two new billboards outside Albany are challenging Washington to change the way it uses our valuable tax dollars. 3% of U.S. Military Spending Could End Starvation on Earth is the message on 2 Albany area billboards for the month of May – put up by Women Against War, who point out that ending the desperation of starving families could do much more for preserving peace than increasing the size of US forces, already “larger than the next 8 countries’ combined”. – https://blog.timesunion.com/wagingpeace/two-billboards-outside-albany-new-york/11141/ – Look at the photo here! – and read the article by Priscilla Fairbank on the Women Against War website with plenty of photos and selfies!

New York City

April 15: Rally in New York City: Sunday, April 15, 2 p.m. “End the Wars at Home and Abroad!” Planning is underway for this rally and march as part of the Spring 2018 Actions (http://springaction2018.org/), endorsed and being planned by many groups around the country. in NYC, meet at Herald Square at 2 followed by a march to Trump Tower. More info: Springactions@gmail.com or call (518) 281-1968

April 17: Vigil and leafleting in New York City: Tuesday, April 17, Noon–1 p.m. Vigil and leafleting outside the IRS office, 290 Broadway at Duane Street, across from the Federal Building. War tax redirections may be announced. Sponsored by NYC War Resisters League (http://nycwarresisters.org/demonstrations/), Granny Peace Brigade (list in formation). Click “going” on the Facebook event page (https://www.facebook.com/events/1701742596586262/) or for more info call (718) 768-7306. Download a pdf document with a photo collage!

North Carolina

April 17: Leaflets in Asheville, North Carolina: Tuesday, April 17. Leaflets will be passed out downtown. Contact Jim Stockwell for information: (828) 675-5448

Ohio

April 17, Bangor: leafleting at Naval Base Kitsap-Bangor, Ohio: Ground Zero Center for Nonviolent Action (gzcenter.org). Yes, we are the folks who have been resisting Trident for over 40 years; our “Center” is next door to the largest deployed concentration of nuclear weapons in the US. This year we are focusing our attention on, among other things, military/nuclear weapons spending. We will be supporting GDAMS next week (on April 17th) in our monthly leafleting at Naval Base Kitsap-Bangor, home of eight of the U.S. Navy’s OHIO Class “Trident” ballistic missile submarines as well as the Strategic [nuclear] Weapons Facility, Pacific. We are currently preparing a leaflet targeted at people (civilian and military) who work on the base. Our leafleteers will be out in the early morning hours at one or both entrance gates offering the leaflet to people entering the base for the day shift.

Oregon

April 15: Rally and tabling in Eugene, Oregon: Sunday, April 15, 1-3 pm. Rally and tabling at EWEB then march to the old Federal Building then on to the new Federal Building and then loop back to EWEB. Speakers, music, Spanish and sign language interpreters, penny poll, and a “bar graph” along the march route showing folks how much of their tax dollars goes to military versus education, environment, etc. Stops along the route will mark points on the graph — showing how far you walk to fund people & planet vs. military. Music and speeches and giving away resisted tax money at the end. Sponsors include Eugene Taxes for Peace!, Community Alliance of Lane County, Indivisible Eugene, and more. See the Facebook event: https://www.facebook.com/events/2082321322004308 – Contact Taxes for Peace!: mailto:suebarnhart2@gmail.com

April 14: Action in Portland, Oregon: Annual “Burma Shave” style signs on the bridges demanding no taxes for war. Meet at the east end of the Burnside Bridge and MLK Blvd. – Sponsored by War Resisters League of Portland/Oregon Community of War Tax Resisters, Email or phone (503) 249-6343: mailto:Kimasuegarrison@gmail.com – or contact John Greushow. More information: https://nwtrcc.org/programs-events/tax-day/tax-day-actions/

John Grueshow,

Tax Day 2015, Portland, Oregon.

Pennsylvania

April 17: Granny Peace Brigade in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania: Tax Day Demonstration — Granny Peace Brigade Philadelphia: Tuesday, April 17, 11 am – 1 pm. Join the Granny Peace Brigade and WILPF at the Broad and Sansom Street Post Office, Center City. We will be polling passersby regarding how to spend our tax money. GPBP sends the poll results to local leaders. Don’t miss the photo opportunity with our own Uncle Sam!!!! Cosponsored by Brandywine Peace Community: https://www.grannypeacebrigadephiladelphia.org/upcoming-events.html

April 17: Flyers in Lehigh Valley, Pennsylvania: Tuesday, April 17, all day, various locations. Help Distribute “Where Your Income Tax Money Really Goes” flyers from the War Resisters League at local post offices. Call LEPOCO (610-691-8730) to choose your location & time. This is important! – Lepoco Peace Center:
http://www.lepoco.org/event/help-distribute-where-your-income-tax-money-really-goes-flyers-from-the-war-resisters-league-at-local-post-offices/?instance_id=6475

Tennessee

April 17: Vote for spending priorities at Knoxville, Tennessee: Tuesday, April 17, 11:45 a.m.–1 p.m.. Meet at Market Square where Uncle Sam will be asking passers-by to take their tax dollars and “vote” for their spending priorities by placing them in the train car—education, environment, health care—that they want to fund. Sadly, their tax monies will be swept up by “Senator Alexander” and used to fuel his UPF BOMB PLANT EXPRESS. At 12:45 we will depart Market Square, taking the whole train over to Alexander’s office to ask for answers to a simple question: why are you spending our tax dollars on a bomb plant when we need raises for teachers, housing for the homeless, affordable health insurance for hundreds of thousands of uninsured Tennesseans, protections for the environment…???? – Oak Ridge Environmental Peace Alliance (http://orepa.org/where-are-your-tax-dollars-going/ ) or see the Facebook event (https://www.facebook.com/events/1681078868620754/ ). More information: https://nwtrcc.org/programs-events/tax-day/tax-day-actions/

Texas

April 14: Bridge Action in Austin, Texas: Sunday, April 14, 4–5:30 p.m.. “Bridge Action”: I’d Rather Buy ______ than War!. By Austin Conscientious Objectors to Military Taxation. We will invite passersby to tell us what they’d rather buy than war. On the Pfluger Pedestrian Bridge over Lady Bird Lake, downtown just east of the Lamar Bridge, Austin. For more info: Susan Van Haitsma, (512) 467-2946 jeffjweb@sbcglobal.net

Vermont

April 17: War tax resistance literature and counseling plus music, in Brattleboro, Vermont: Tuesday, April 17, 10 am – 3 pm. War tax resistance literature and counseling, plus music appropriate for these times. Outside the Brattleboro Food Coop, 2 Main Street. – Contact Pioneer Valley War Tax Resistance or call (802) 387-2798: mailto:dhsicken@yahoo.com

Virginia

April 17: Documentary in Lynchburg, Virginia: Tuesday, April 17, 7 p.m.–10 p.m. Screening The Pacifist, a feature-length documentary film about Larry Bassett and his massive war tax resistance journey. The film follows his personal progress, reasons and decisions about refusing to pay for war, but the greater themes and messages of the war tax resister movement are front and center. On that day, Larry’s tax resistance total will come to almost $200,000. At Riverviews Artspace. Free and followed by a Q&A with Mr. Bassett and the film’s producer/director, Alex Zhort. For more info see the Facebook event: https://www.facebook.com/events/613236299012605/

Washington

April 17: Tax Day Action in Seattle, Washington: At the Federal Building (915 – 2nd Ave), Seattle, from 11am – 1pm – Organized by Veterans For Peace, Chapter 92. Look at the photo here!

Wisconsin

April 17: Tax Day Vigil in Milwaukee, Wisconsin: Tuesday, April 17, 5 pm – 6:30 pm Tax Day Vigil at the Downtown Milwaukee Post Office, 345 W Saint Paul Ave, 53203. For more information email or call Lincoln Rice – (414) 342-1911 – contact Milwaukee War Tax Resistance & Casa Maria Catholic Worker: mailto:lincoln.rice@outlook.com

Other WTR actions taking place around Maine (read and download the full document here) not during GDAMS, include:

March 1st, from 10am-2pm: University of New England Career Expo, Biddeford campus center

April 2nd, from 2pm-4pm: Southern Maine Community College Campus Center

April 5: Action in Lewiston, Maine: 10:15a-4:30p University of Southern Maine, Lewiston, go in flag entrance, make a left and go down the corridor to the table. For more information, go to http://mainewtr.nwtrcc.org

April 7, from 10am-2pm: Belfast coop

April 10, from 11am-2pm: Bates College Commons

April 11, from 10am-3pm: University of Southern Maine, Portland, Student Union with a polar bear.

Please stop by the actions. We will have lots of information on war tax resistance and the Youth & Militarism Project. For lots of great information go to http://mainewtr.nwtrcc.org

Other U.S. events and actions, coming soon!

List of past (2017) events:

March 31st, Maine: Action on Military Spending (Read more)
March 31st, 2017
Bar Harbor College of the Atlantic Cafeteria
At breakfast and lunch. Sponsored by the Maine War Tax Resistance Resource Center

April 4, Buffalo, NY.: Talking Peace with the WNY Peace Center – Special Rev Dr King edition
Tuesday, April 4th from 10am to 6 pm.
At 91.3FM WBNY, livestreaming from here or here – Read More…

April 4 to 11th, Maine: Multiple Actions on Military Spending (Read more)
March 31st, 2017
UMaine, Orono, Hope Fest: April 8, 11am-3pm, Includes workshop on WTR. Sponsored by the Maine War Tax Resistance Resource Center
Waterville Castonguay Square: April 8, Noon-5pm. Sponsored by the Maine War Tax Resistance Resource Center
UMaine, Machias: April 4 and April 11, 11am-2pm. Sponsored by the Maine War Tax Resistance Resource Center

April 15th, Cambridge, Ma.: Tax Day 2017 Mobilization in Cambridge Common
Saturday, April 15 at 1 pm.
Cambridge Common – Read More…

Tax Rally. About 3,000 people attended the demo in Cambridge Common, emceed by State Representative Mike Connollly.
Link to the pictures flickr stream. Look at them!

With speech from Joseph Gerson. Read it!

April 15th, Cleveland: Tax March

GDAMS_Cleveland_Plain_Dealer

Soaked marchers deal with rain and wind as the walk south on East 9th Street during the tax-day protest in downtown Cleveland on April 15th, 2017
Read more…
Cleveland Tax March for People Peace and Planet

April 15th, Duluth, Minnesota: Rally and March

Saturday, April 15th, 2017
Noon at the Federal Building in Duluth. MN, USA
Theme: Local Needs Matter.
Sponsored by Veterans for Peace, Chapter 80, and Grandmothers for Peace Twin Ports

April 15th, Maine: Multiple Actions on Military Spending (Read more)
Bangor: April 15, 2am to 4pm. Resist War Action, Federal Building in Bangor, Me. Sponsored by the Maine War Tax Resistance Resource Center
Belfast Food Coop: April 15, 11am to 5pm (may continue longer). Sponsored by the Maine War Tax Resistance Resource Center
Bethel Post Office: April 15, 10am to 12:30pm, Sponsored by the Maine War Tax Resistance Resource Center
Blue Hill Food Coop: April 15, Noon-2pm. Sponsored by the Maine War Tax Resistance Resource Center
Rome – Youth Activism Gathering: April 15, Weekend. Sponsored by the Maine War Tax Resistance Resource Center

April 15th, Walpole, MA: Tax Day Rally and Peace Vigil – Redirect Military Spending to Fund Human Needs
10:00 AM, Walpole Common

Over 30 people gathered on the Walpole Common on Saturday, April 15, 2017, at a peace vigil standing in solidarity with the Global Campaign on Military Spending and the Tax Day 2017 Mobilization, calling for a reduction in military spending and a redirection of those funds to human services. Sponsored by the Walpole Peace and Justice Group, a 40 foot banner was held showing where the Federal discretionary budget is spent today based on the 2017 budget. The banner consisted of colored panels, each representing a budget category like military spending and education, with a length proportional to the size of each budget. The U.S. military spending is more than 50% of the Federal discretionary budget. It equals the combined military spending of the next eight countries, including China, Saudi Arabia, Russia, the United Kingdom, and India. The vigil was also calling for President Trump to release his tax returns and was opposing his proposed 2018 budget cuts to human services like housing, senior programs, the National Endowment of the Arts, and the EPA.

GDAMS_Walpole_TaxDay

The Walpole Peace and Justice Group will held a Rally on April 15, joining with the Global Campaign on Military Spending and the Tax Day 2017 Mobilization in calling for our federal government to redirect military spending to fund human needs and to stop military interventions. We call for:
– President Trump to release his tax returns
– Stopping the new “big, big” tax cuts for corporations and the 1%
– Opposing President Trump’s “Death Budget” released on March 16
– Re-directing money from the Pentagon to families and climate protection
– Supporting the Peoples Budget in Congress

The Pentagon’s budget equals the combined total of the next eight largest military spenders, including China, Saudi Arabia, Russia, the United Kingdom, and India! We will have a 40 foot budget banner that shows where the Federal discretionary budget is spent today. We will also have a couple of brief speeches and will pass out an informational leaflet urging people to call our U.S. Senators and Representatives. We may also have some drummers!

April 16th, Beach at Santa Monica pier, CA: A cemetery on the sand
Sunday, April 16, 2017
At 2:30 PM
Beach north of the Santa Monica Pier, Site of the Veterans for Peace Project called “Arlington West” – a cemetery on the sand.

Read more…
You will see a sea of white crosses just to the right (north) of the pier, in the sand, with several tables and exhibits set up by Veterans for Peace detailing the costs of war. Our group, the Southern California War Tax Resistance, will have our own table there, with full support of VFP.

We will gather at 2:30 PM and at 3 PM will host a public event of war tax redistribution to give out checks of resisted war taxes to local groups supporting peace and justice. We’ll have lots of information on where your taxes are going now, and ideas on where you might rather spend them.

For more information, reply by email to cathydeppela@gmail.com or call Cathy at 408-206-7992. – And information on War Tax resistance: www.scwtr.net

April 17th, Walnut Creek, San Francisco Bay area: distribution of flyers
April 17, 2017
6:30 am – 8:00 am PDT
Members and friends of the Mt. Diablo Peace and Justice Center distributed flyers at all of the Contra Costa County BART stations.
55 Eckley Lane, Walnut Creek, State

April 17th, Maine: Multiple Actions on Military Spending (Read more)
April 17, 2017
Brunswick Post Office: April 17, organized by PeaceWorks
Damariscotta Post Office: April 17 and 18, 11pm-4pm. Sponsored by the Maine War Tax Resistance Resource Center

April 17th, Northampton, MA: Pat*RIOT’s Day Rally
11 am
Join our Pat-RIOT’s day march, April 17th at 11am at Bridge St School.
We will Meet-up at 11:00am. Speak Up and Sing Out in front of First Churches (129 Main Street). 12:00 noon is the Anti-war Peace “Riot”.
Organized by the American Friends Service Committee, Western Massachusetts Program.