The War Tax Alternative Fund?

The Southern California War Tax Alternative Fund (SCWTAF) is made up of money not paid as taxes by people who have not paid part or all of our federal income and/or telephone excise taxes due to the belief that since we work for peace we ought to refuse to pay for war. The Alternative Fund serves in the following purposes:

• A Holding Account for Unpaid Taxes: The money may be recovered from the Fund at any time by the war tax refuser, or if she/he experiences a wage, fund, or property seizure by the Internal Revenue Service.
• Distribution of Interest on the SCWTAF: Depositors make a positive statement that we favor funding human needs while we refuse to fund warfare and destruc­tion, by donating the interest generated by the Fund. SCWTAF is held in a bank in a low-income area­; the interest the Fund “earns” is granted to organizations and programs serving ­peace, justice, and human needs. Grantees are selected by Fund depositors.
• Confirmation of Sincerity: Many Fund members inform the public and/or the IRS that they are willing to pay their refused tax money to peaceful social purposes, but not for war or preparation for war. For them, depositing the "war tax" in the Alternative Fund demonstrates that they are motivated by a conscientious opposition to war, and that they are engaged in war tax resistance, not tax avoidance.

Southern California War Tax Alternative Fund - Grants for 2007
Will Be Presented April 15th at ICUJP event

Presentation will be Sun., April 15th 2007 at the Jubilee for Justice & Peace of Interfaith Communities United for Justice & Peace.  The event honors MLK’s 1967 “Silence is Betrayal” speech and calls for and end to the Iraq occupation.  It will take place at Bethel AME Church, 7900 S. Western Ave., Los Angeles, and begins at 5 PM.  For more info about the event: www.icujp.org

ICUJP’s announcement of the event is familiar to war tax resisters and supporters:

“What if the billions of dollars devoted to tax cuts and war in Iraq were dedicated to the people’s needs?
“WE CAN TURN IT AROUND!
“From Domination to Generosity in our Foreign Policy.
“From Racism to Reconciliation at Home.”

Fund grants were chosen:

Fund depositors and wtr activists met April 1 and granted the $4800 total available to the following groups and projects (please see their websites or email them to learn more about their activities):


Homies Unidos - support for families and youths facing gang and deportation problems - www.homiesunidos.org

California Partnership - campaigns for low-income people with their participation - www.california-partnership.org

Northern Spirit Radio - peace and justice theme radio program production - email helpsmeet@usa.net

L.A. Food Not Bombs - volunteer food prepared and given out to the public in need - www.lafoodnotbombs.org

Coalition Against Militarism in Our Schools - students, teachers, parents against militarism - www.militaryfreeschools.org

Critical Resistance L.A. - reverse the prison construction and imprisonment trends - www.criticalresistance.org

National War Tax Resistance Coordinating Committee - coordination & resources for war tax resistance - www.nwtrcc.org

Arlington West Film & Speakers Program - educating about the reality of war and its costs - www.arlingtonwestfilm.org

9 to 5 - “A Voice for Working Women” - www.9to5bayarea.org

Interfaith Communities United for Justice & Peace - community organizing and programs - www.icujp.org

Voices for Creative Nonviolence - nonviolent actions for peace and ending U.S. interventions - www.vcnv.org

Please consider supporting War Tax Resistance! 
Here's how:

• You can make a deposit into the Southern California War Tax Alternative Fund -- this could be your refused taxes, or any symbolic amount.  SCWTAF will hold that money in an interest-bearing account, and use the interest generated to make small grants to organizations that promote peace and social services.  We will return your deposit to you when you request it.  All depositors are invited to participate in the annual selection of grant recipients.
  
• You can make a contribution of any size to Southern California War Tax Resistance, and we will use it to generate publicity and organize activism on behalf of war tax resistance.  Note: this contribution is not tax-deductible!

Send your checks to:

2436 Armstrong Avenue
Los Angeles, CA  90039.