National War Tax Resistance Coordinating Committee • P.O. Box 150553, Brooklyn, NY 11215 • (718)768-3420 • (800) 269-7464

February 2006

More than aNews from the War Tax Resistance Movement

paycheck

Continued on page 3

An Interview with Julia Butterfly HillBy Daniel Woodham

DW: Can you give us an updateabout your war tax resistance action?Was it $150,000 that you resisted?

JBH: I think it was more than that,like $170,000. Now it’s over $200,000with the penalties and interest. Mycontact with the IRS has just beenabout getting flooded with paperwork.They have tons of power and tons ofmoney, and they’ll just use these to tryand overwhelm and squash those whoare doing this as a form of dissent. It’sso ironic the way corporations aregetting away with billions of dollarsthat they owe in taxes yet still gettinggovernment contracts on top of that.

Are you choosing to settle with theIRS or is your goal to keep it away fromthem?

Currently I’m just involved inpaperwork. I’m in this nonprofit Circleof Life, and we put on these reallyincredible festivals called “We thePlanet.” The IRS said, “Ooo, there mustbe money there.” Actually the festivalsare programmed so they cost theorganization money. We don’t usehorrible corporate sponsors to meetthe costs. So the IRS said they wantedto know about that and [how it relates

financially] to me.When I was consulting around to make

sure the consequences of my choice to doWTR didn’t impact others around me or thework that I do in the nonprofit, I calledlawyers and created clear lines betweenmyself and the nonprofit. Because I haveone of the larger single instances of resis-tance, and because I have quite a bit ofpublic attention, one thing the IRS wasvery clear about was that there was no waythey would negotiate with me. It wouldsend the wrong signal to others whochoose to do WTR.

One thing we talk about in the WTRmovement is the range of emotions peopleexperience in the different phases of theiractive civil disobedience. How has it beenemotionally for you?

For a little bit it was a roller coaster, andnow it’s really solid. I started out cautious.I was not so much concerned for my owncomfort as others might be. I believe ouraddiction to comfort has held a lot of peopleback from being liberated in this country. Ithink that’s why we see powerful move-ments in other countries where peopledon’t have as much access to privilege.They don’t have that addiction to creaturecomforts, so they are willing to take morerisks, which ends up being very liberatingfor them.

Julia Butterfly Hill Photo courtesy of Circle of Life.

Our thoughts are with allour friends at ChristianPeacemaker Teams and the fourCPT activists missing in Iraq. We hope for their safe returnas we hope and work for anend to the madness of war.

Just in my own life I’ve faced next to nocomfort enough times so that I don’t havethat fear around comfort. My biggestconcerns were around projects I wasinvolved in and my nonprofit work. Butfor me I felt really solid and clear. I talkedwith a lot of WTRs or people who wereWTRs. I had people go online for me tofind out info because I don’t use computersvery often. I was very thoughtful in theprocess. And then I had a lot of strangecircumstances in my life because of havingdone things like written books and havingcontracts for speaking somewhere andgetting honorariums. All this created a lotof messiness, and I got some advice and setup an infrastructure.

Then I saw some people freaking outbecause of how my decision could impacttheir lives. I felt so responsible, and it putme in a tailspin for a few days. And then Idid what I always do and that is to go backto my purpose. I realized my decision todo WTR was to take a stand. We oftentimes

For updates see www.cpt.org

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NwTRccP.O. Box 150553

Brooklyn, NY 11215(718) 768-3420(800) 269-7464

FAX: (718) 768-4388

email: nwtrcc@nwtrcc.orgWeb: www.nwtrcc.org

More than apaycheck

EditorRuth Benn

Design & LayoutSusan Quinlan

PrintingLakeside Printing

Cooperative

Printed on Recycled Paper

More Than a Paycheck is abimonthly publication of theNational War Tax ResistanceCoordinating Committee, aclearinghouse and resourcecenter for the conscientious

war tax resistancemovement in the UnitedStates. NWTRCC is a

coalition of local, regionaland national affiliate groups

working on war taxrelated issues.

NWTRCC sees poverty, racism,sexism, homophobia, economic

exploitation, environmentaldestruction and militarization oflaw enforcement as integrally

linked with the militarismwhich we abhor. Through theredirection of our tax dollars,

NWTRCC members contributedirectly to the struggle forpeace and justice for all.

Telephone TaxRefunds?

ine federal courts have stated that the 3%excise tax does not apply to phone billswhere the charge is based solely on the

length of the call and not on the distance. UnderCode Sec. 4251 the telephone excise tax is imposedon telephone serv ices for which the amount of atoll charge varies “with distance and elapsed time.”The key word is “and.”

In a November 2005 ruling by the U.S. Courtof Appeals for the Sixth Circuit, OfficeMax is enti-tled to a full refund of the $380,297 in federal excisetax paid on flat rate serv ice from 1999 through2002. On December 9, 2005, the U.S. Court ofAppeals for the District of Columbia Circuitaffirmed a District Court’s judgment on the sameissue for the National Passenger Corporation. Thisis a big deal to the IRS because as much as $9billion in potential tax refund claims rest on theresolution of this issue. So if your phone chargesare the same no matter where you call in theUnited States, you have legal support for sayingyou do not owe the tax.

But be warned, the IRS has stated that it willstill attempt collection of the tax in these circum-stances and backed this up by the fact that theyare still prosecuting appeals in four other courts atthe moment. While any taxpayer could request arefund back three years, a recent article states, “Aperson entitled to a $50 refund would have to fillout forms a dozen times to get the three years’worth of refunds permitted under tax law.Collecting records and preparing the form wouldtake about seven hours.” (USA TODAY, Dec 13,2005) An idea has come into NWTRCC that wtrgroups do a fundraising project for NWTRCCapplying for phone tax refunds for people as aserv ice!

—Thanks to Lincoln Rice.

Counseling Notes

IRS HearingsMore resisters seem to be calling about

whether to take the IRS up on its offer for a“Collection Due Process Hearing” that comeswith the “Final Notice, Intent to Levy.” TheseCDP hearings are a new provision of theInternal Revenue Code, guaranteed undersections 6320 and 6330, which were added in1998 but only recently fully implemented.Checking back with a few people who calledabout this and said they intended to schedule ahearing, it appears that things did not go veryfar. While some resisters want to be able toexplain to the IRS their reasons for refusing topay, the IRS is not anxious to listen. WTRshave been warned that if their arguments fallinto the “frivolous” category at best they willget a hearing over the phone and at worst theycould get a frivolous fine. A Raging Grannieresister hoped that fellow Grannies couldprotest outside the office while she had herhearing, but she was only offered a telephoneinterv iew.

NWTRCC legal adviser Peter Goldbergersays that the law does not provide for any“frivolous argument” penalty for offering expla-nations for one’s actions at a CDP Hearing, sothat any such threats are either a misunder-standing by the agent or a bluff. Also, Peternotes that the IRS regulation stating thatappeals will not be granted to a taxpayer whowishes to advance “political, philosophical, orconstitutional” arguments is not written toapply to CDP hearings, and the law itself allows“the taxpayer” to raise “any relevant issue.”Within those limits, a hearing should not bedenied on the basis of the reasons to be offered.(The law does not say that the hearing has tobe in person, however.)

We would like to hear from more people whohave experience with the CDP hearing process atany stage. Please contact the NWTRCC office at 1-800-269-7464 or nwtrcc@nwtrcc.org.

page 2 More than a paycheck • February 2006

N

ManyThanks

Network ListUpdates

e are grateful to each individualand group who responded to ourfall appeal, and for the special 2006

contribution through the Mother’s MoneyFund of the Vermont Community Founda-tion as well as the Maine WTR ResourceCenter. Your support keeps NWTRCC going!

e are still in need of contacts inMontana, New Hampshire, andNebraska. Contact the NWTRCC office

if you know WTRs in those states who might beinterested. Also contact the office if you wouldlike the full list of counselors, contacts, and affil-iate groups in the U.S.

W W

More than a paycheck • February 2006 page 3

Taxable IncomeLevels

WTRCC offers the standarddeductions/personal exemptionchart as a guide for people who

choose to live below the taxable income.IRS standard deduction and exemptionamounts are adjusted annually for cost-of-living increases.

However, if you choose to file, it ispossible to exceed these income levels, butend up owing no tax (including receivingback 100% of any withholding) by usingsuch options as the Earned Income Credit ifyou qualify; taking allowances for depen-dents; making use of pension funds orhealth benefit plans that reduce one’staxable income; and taking deductions suchas for at-home businesses. NWTRCC doesnot give advice on filling out tax forms orways to reduce taxable income; there is

information on the web for this (such as,www.sniggle.net/Experiment).

To figure out your 2006 income levelbefore owing income taxes, identify yourcategory and multiply the personal exemp-tion by the number of dependents you canclaim, including yourself, then add yourstandard deduction. For example, if you aremarried and filing jointly, with two chil-dren, you would add $13,200 ($3,300 x 4)to $10,300, equaling a taxable level of$23,500. Below this amount your familywould owe no income taxes for the year(see below for filing requirements). Thiscalculation also gives the annual amount ofincome the IRS needs to leave you if theyare garnishing your wages. This formuladoes not apply to Social Security taxes.

Filing Threshhold: In most cases thenumbers on the chart represent themaximum gross income adults can make in2006 before the IRS requires a federalincome tax return to be filed. The numbersfor current filing for tax year 2005 are:Single: $8,200; Married filing jointly,$16,400; Head of Household, $10,500;Married, filing separately, $3,200;surv iving spouse, $13,200. The filingthreshold is a bit higher for people who areover 65. (See IRS Publication 17) Thisinformation is provided not to encourageone method or another but as the basis forinformed decisions. ▼

Counseling Notes

…Julia Butterfly HillContinued from page 1

have to take stands in our country andin our world where we don’t know theoutcome and can’t control it. But thiscan’t stop us from taking stands. It’salmost like putting an energetic stake inthe ground. Whether or not it makes itin the history books, there’s somethingabout the power of that energy, like “thisis the spot of integrity on which I stand.”And that got me right back to center. Iwas required to go to an IRS hearingwith the head agent, and I went in thereso clear and centered and left feeling thesame way. It’s so crucial that we bewilling to just make these decisions.

It’s coming from a place of conscience.Exactly. We do the right thing

because it’s the right thing to do, regard-

less of the outcome. And another thing Itell people regarding activism and doingWTR is: What else would I want to do withmy life anyway? Many people, includingmany in my family, are well meaning andnarrow minded fundamentalists who arepart of the myth of the “American Dream.”When I spend time with these people andthen others who take great risks, I see thatthe energy between the two is justdifferent. I think people think they arehappy with just the two-car garage, the 2.5children, and the white picket fence. Butreally I don’t think they are experiencinglife to its fullest.

Have you continued to resist taxes sincethat initial time?

Absolutely. I set up a system whereby Icould make an income that was below thepoverty line. Part of my focus has alwaysbeen about simplicity. The IRS agents werelike “How could you live on that? It’s not

possible.” I replied, “Yes it is. I don’t own acar. I take public transportation. I livevery simply.” The most money I spend ison eating organic food because that’s impor-tant to me. For my clothes I shop at thriftstores. And now my challenge is that thereare other projects I would like to do, and Ihave to find a way to do them where I keepthe project separate from me so the IRS hasno legal standing for collection.

How do you see WTR in the biggerpicture of grassroots activism and civil diso-bedience actions?

I’ve told people from the very begin-ning that WTR is doing civil disobedienceevery single day. In this country we seemaddicted to what I call “The One HitWonder.” We go for one big day of directaction and then get frustrated when themedia doesn’t give the action much airplay.

Continued on page 7

N

2006 IRS Deductions and Exemptions

Category Standard Deduction Personal Exemption

Single $5,150 $3,300

Married, filing jointly $10,300 "

Married, filing separately $5,150 "

Head of household $7,550 "

An additional $1,000 standard deduction may be claimed by a married taxpayerwho is at least 65 years old or blind ($2,000 if 65 or older and blind). If thetaxpayer is single, 65 or over or blind, an additional $1,250 is allowed. Thepersonal exemption phases out at higher income levels. More information aboutstandard deduction can be found on the back of the IRS W-4 form (2006).

War Tax Res

page 4 More than a paycheck • February 2006

embers of Northern CaliforniaWar Tax Resistance weresurprised by a large turn out at

their end of the year gathering. The eventwas jointly sponsored with the San Fran-cisco Friends Meeting, where there is newenergy to encourage participants to engagein either phone tax resistance or the 1040club. Given the time of year—the Tuesdaybetween Christmas and New Years—theorganizers expected a few die-hards from

Resources

Tax day is Coming! April 15 is a Saturday thisyear, and the last day to file is Monday, April 17,so there’s lots of opportunity for demonstrationsthis year. Pictured: Tax Day 2005 in Denton,Texas. Photo by Ozlem Altiok, Peace Action Denton.

o

Get Yours Now!Be sure to stock up on your leaf-

leting and tabling materials for tax day!All bulk orders have postage in additionto the cost of materials and can beinvoiced. Below are a few options.

See the website (www.nwtrcc.org/publications.htm) for a full list or call theoffice for a copy of our Resource List.NWTRCC, 1-800-269-7464 ornwtrcc@nwtrcc.org.

• Peace Tax Return brochure – 8¢each

• “Where Your Income Tax MoneyReally Goes” – pie chart flyer from WarResisters League – 10¢ each for ordersof 200 or fewer (WRL handles largerorders: 339 Lafayette St., NY, NY10012, 212-228-0450).

• “Why Isn’t Everyone Who’s ForPeace A War Tax Resister? Answers toCommon Questions” – (brochure style)15¢ each general orders, 12¢ each foraffiliates (or download the flyer versionfrom our website publications page)

• War Tax Resistance: A Guide to With-holding Your Support from the Military,144 page book. $15 each plus $2postage (call for bulk rates)

• Practical War Tax Resistance

Continued on page 6

WTR Outreach at SOA & Beyondnce again NWTRCC and WTRs werewell-represented at the School ofAmericas Watch rally and civil diso-

bedience in Columbus, Georgia, November19-20, 2005. On the 20th, more than 19,000people stood vigil at the gates of FortBenning to demand that this U.S. Armytraining center be closed. Forty-one werearrested and 34 of them face trial onJanuary 30, 2006. Many on the list ofarrestees are war tax resisting friends. Atleast 10 WTRs helped with the NWTRCCtable, and coordinator Robert Randallreported that they had a great time. “Except

for the last two hours getting rained out, weadequately staffed the literature table theentire time, and we distributed all 4,000 ofthe special flyers made up for the event,”said Robert. Hopefully some on the counse-lors list have received follow up calls oremails from some who stopped by the table.

NWTRCC literature was also available atthe Oklahoma City Fall Peace Festival. Theb rochures received good attention beingstationed on the Oklahoma City Friendsmeeting table next to the free Quaker oatcookies. ▼

MHoliday Surprise for NCWTR

each group, and were delighted by theenergy of over twenty people who weredrawn to the gathering by calendar listingsin local papers. What was thought would bea planning meeting turned into a mini IntroWorkshop, and tax season planning wasput off till January. Northern California alsohas a new WTR discussion listserve whichshould help facilitate local communication.Anyone interested can sign up at: http://lists.riseup.net/www/info/ncwtr_discuss. ▼

To the IRSBecause of the 237 documented misrep-

resentations made by the U.S. governmentfor initiating war with Iraq detailed in “Iraqon the Record,” I am enclosing only theportion of my income tax designated tosupport public welfare programs. Theremainder has been sent to The CarterCenter to support their work of identifyingthe sources of international conflict andmediating provisions for equitable resolu-tions. I request to be informed of thereasoning behind why the U.S. started thiswar.

May it go well with you. Sincerely, G Robertson

To NWTRCCI have chosen to include the following

statement with my 2005 income tax form.Please use this idea in any way that youbelieve might be interesting and possiblyuseful for others, and include the emailaddress also. Many of us are searching for away to respond to the current crisis.

Garland Robertson, Pastor, AustinMennonite Church, Austin, TX,pastor@mennochurch.org

Message….

Sallie-Alice Thompson (right) and Grannies meet with recruiters in Albuquerque. Photo by Bob Giles.

More than a paycheck • February 2006 page 5

Series ($1 each; 50¢ for affiliates) - #1:Controlling Withholding (updated Jan.2006); #2: To File Or Not To File; #3:How To Resist Collection; #4: Self-Employment; #5: Low Income/SimpleLiving; #6: Organizational Resistance

• WTR Exhibit - six 22”x34” posters(not mounted). $30 postpaid

• “Ask Me About War Tax Resis-tance” buttons. Single buttons free. Callabout bulk orders. ▼

Resisting Grannies

Uncle Sam wants Sally-AliceThompson, 82, and MahassanShukry, 71, but they won’t go.

Thompson served in the Navy duringWorld War II. Shukry is from Iraq and hasbeen in the U.S. for 26 years.

They both received recruitment lettersfrom the Marine Corps saying the Marinescould use their Arabic language skills.Thompson said that she knows only a fewwords of Arabic. The women are membersof the Raging Grannies, who protest warwith humorous songs and sometimes acan-can dance. On November 10, 2005,

Thompson and Shukry, along with moreGrannies (including war tax resister DorieBunting) and their supporters entered theMarine Corps recruitment office on SanMateo Boulevard in Albuquerque to tell therecruiters that they would respectfullydecline the invitations. The action was well-covered by local media, and the recruiterapologized for the letter. The Grannies leftsome homebaked cookies, although theMarines told KUNM they would not beeating the cookies. They would notcomment as to why.

—Bob Giles

Make Levees Not War!Bumperstickers available from the

National Campaign for a Peace Tax Fund.11" x 3", blue and white vinyl, $2.50 each.

Order from the website,www.peacetaxfund.org, or call 1-888-732-2382. For bulk orders, call or email,info@peacetaxfund.org.

Resources, Cont.

WTR LyricsHere are the words to a couple Raging

Grannie songs, appropriate for tax days.More can be found on the websites noted.

“Wasteful Military Spending”(Tune: “Frere Jacques”; Edmonton Gran-nies)

Taxes unending, military spendingWhat a waste! What a waste!Reinstate some sanity—Turn it to humanity.Work for peace! Work for peace!

www.raginggrannies.com/GranniesRecent.htm#recent_songs

“We Ain’t Gonna Pay No More”(Tune: “It Ain’t Gonna Rain No More”; AliceSturm Sutter, WILPF NY Metro Branch)

Ohhh WeeeAin’t gonna pay no more no moreWe ain’t gonna pay no more!How the hey can they cut my payTo fund their gruesome war?!No More!

www.wilpfnymetro.org

Resistance Ideas & Actions

page 6 More than a paycheck • February 2006

nwtrcc business

nominations is March 15, 2006. Currentmembers are Eszter Freeman* (CA),Lincoln Rice* (WI), Susan Balzer (KS),Daniel Woodham (NC), and Alice Liu(CA). Please contact the office for a jobdescription, or send in nominations andwe will follow up with further details.Affiliate groups should make a specialeffort to offer nominations.

*These members complete their termsin May 2006. ▼

WTRCC’s Administrative Committee(AdComm) seeks 3 new members,who will be chosen from nominees at

the May 2006 meeting in Seattle. We arelooking for 1 full member (serves 2 years)and 2 alternates (1 year as alternate plus 2years as full member) to attend 2 weekendmeetings per year (travel paid for fullmembers) and oversee the work ofNWTRCC, plan the CoordinatingCommittee meetings, and help withprojects during the year. The deadline for

Nominations Needed! N

Coordinating Committee meeting,Brooklyn New York, October 9, 2005. Photo by Ruth Benn.

Join Us InSeattle!

he next NWTRCC gathering andmeeting will be held May 5-7, 2006,in Seattle, hosted by the Nonviolent

Action Community of Cascadia. Mark yourcalendars and watch for more informationin the mail or the next issue. If you oryour group would like to host a NWTRCCgathering, we’d love to come your way andwill help organize it too.

Please contact the NWTRCC office for moreinformation. ▼

and I was moved to the core by his simpleeloquence. His message of nonviolencerooted in Christian principles, his courageto stand up for what he believed in whenthe odds seemed insurmountable, moti-vated me to dedicate my life to nonviolentstruggle against racism and other forms ofinjustice.

The student body at Wisconsin hadmany confrontations with CIA officials,military recruiters, and DOW ChemicalCompany representatives. Often the smellof tear gas would accompany me on my wayhome from class. I engaged in several directactions involving ROTC at Wisconsin.Many of my friends were burning theirdraft cards and/or fleeing to Canada toavoid the draft, but since I had alreadyserved, I was exempt from the draft. Aftergraduating in 1968 and starting a teachingjob at a predominantly Black college in NewOrleans, I found it hard to keep up myresistance to the war. Then I heard aboutwar tax resistance and that the government

War Tax -Responsibility -Peace Tax

he Eleventh International Confer-ence on War Tax Resistance andPeace Tax Campaigns will take place

October, 26-29, 2006, Woltersdorf (nearBerlin). Planning is underway, and theevent is hosted by Netzwerk Friedens-steuer. The costs for accommodation andfood are about 95 EUR.

Information can be found at www.peacetax-2006.com, or contact the organizers: FriedrichHeilmann Seestr, 21 D-15537, Erkner,Germany, +49-3362-503071, infos@peacetax-2006.com. ▼

…Making of an ActivistContinued from page 8

Continued on page 7

T

T

was drafting my tax dollars to kill Vietna-mese. I started with phone tax refusal,but soon escalated to refusing the mili-tary portion of the income tax—it wasover 60% in those days. I had three smallchildren, so it was important that my wifesupported our resisting war taxes. Bythat time I had moved to South Bend,Indiana, and found that many NotreDame students were ready to take actionagainst the war. We set up a small draftcounseling office and held many demon-strations on campus and in town. I firstcommitted civil disobedience during theMay Day, 1970, “Shut Down Wash-ington” events and experienced 14 hoursand a macing in the DC jail.

Although I offered to start payingtaxes as a good faith gesture after Nixonended the war, it soon became clear thatthere was no reduction in militaryspending. My wife and I have beenrefusing to voluntarily pay the militaryportion of our income taxes ever since.We file the 1040 each year but refuse tosend the payment. Because my wife is

Every action for justice is an importantstep to take, and there’s somethingpowerful about taking one step after theother. To me WTR is that: A commitment.It’s like my two years and eight days in atree. I called that my “ground fast,”because I was away from the ground forthat long. Every choice that is about aneveryday commitment is a powerfulchoice to make.

Do you have any ideas about lettingmore people know about WTR?

I’ve found it to be a challenge. WhenI do events that are a part of mynonprofit, I can’t advertise or promoteWTR because that is against the law,whereas I am protected under the consti-tution if I am talking about WTR as myown opinion. Circle of Life does a lot ofimportant work in the world, and it isimportant for me to protect that work. Ihave so many people who come up to meand ask [about WTR] and I give them thewebsite. I tell them about my own expe-rience. I talk about the WTR communi-ties across the country. Media is animportant means for getting out info onWTR, and we are lucky to have main-stream media coverage on Tax Day.

I chose to take this stand whilemarching in the financial district in SanFrancisco right in the very beginning ofthe protests [against the Iraq War]. Ihelped shut down the financial district,

More than a paycheck • February 2006 page 7

CONTINUATIONS

the federal building, and three differentintersections. I was out in the streets exer-cising my responsibilities as a citizen toask for some accountability of my govern-ment. And it really hit me: How manypeople are going to go back to their livesand contribute to the very same thingthey are out here protesting today? Howmany people drove here, one or twopeople per car to protest a war for oil?This was at the time I had found out I hadthis money available to me because of alawsuit settlement. (It’s not like I’m able toearn that much per year!) I found out thegovernment wanted to take 32% of it. Itried to find ways to keep it from them andlawyers said, “You have to pay them; justbe thankful for this other money you haveto work with in the world.” I really strug-gled with that. And then that day in thefinancial district I didn’t struggle anymore.I said to myself there is no way I can givethat money to the very same thing I amout here protesting against.

It’s really interesting to see how manypeople will go out there and get arrestedand do symbolic actions and won’t takethis step. I think oftentimes humans reallyact in the space of crisis. We also act in thespace of inspiration, which is a reallypowerful way to act. I’m more excitedabout people who choose to act from inspi-ration rather than crisis. My sense is thatif things get better in this country, even alittle bit better, that people will be numbedback into their comfort. If things get muchworse, there is a potential for leverage.

I think growing the WTR movementmeans creating events that are inspira-

tional and involve having celebrities, sincethat is what attracts people. There are veryfew famous people who have done WTR butmy guess is that there are a few like JoanBaez or Woody Harrelson that might come.

For me being famous is more difficultthan doing WTR. I am nervous each time Iget up on stage, but I remind myself that Ihave made a commitment and so I do it. It’simportant to listen to what you believe isimportant in life, that which calls you to acommitment. So I’m willing to continueputting myself out there in the limelight,and part of my commitment is to helppeople realize that I’m not a celebrity, thatI’m a person. I chose to take a stand andthat’s what made me a celebrity.

Thank you for taking time today toshare your thoughts with us and also for thework you continue to do.

Absolutely! Anything I can do to helpI’d love to since I want to be an ally and ateammate on this.

Julia Butterfly Hill is the author of TheLegacy of Luna, about her tree-sit, and OneMakes a Difference. More information abouther and the activities of Circle of Life can befound online at www.circleoflife.org or at POBox 3764, Oakland, CA 94609, (510) 601-9790.

Also, see the related site, Activism Is Patri-otism, where NWTRCC is listed under the“Money” button, www.activismispatriotism.org.

Daniel Woodham is a war tax resister wholives in North Carolina. He is on NWTRCC’sAdministrative Committee. ▼

Julia Butterfly HillContinued from page 3

self-employed, and I claimed 10 allowanceson my W-4 form, we avoided withholdingon the refused amount. Unlike other wartax resisters, we have never succeeded inshielding our bank accounts and salariesfrom the IRS. They have collected every -thing they claim we owe plus penaltiesand interest. They have garnished wages,seized bank accounts and my IRA, putliens on my house, and even taken insu-rance payments due to my wife’s medical

practice. However, I have found it very empow-

ering to be able to say “No” to the govern-ment as it has continued to wage wars inNicaragua, Grenada, Panama, Colombia,Iraq, and many other places. In answer tothe many who have questioned the effec-tiveness of our resistance, we point to theway it has helped us stay active as citizensover the years. We tell folks that the penal-ties and interest are used to pay IRSemployees and don’t end up in the generalfund. Also, the power of nonviolence is atwork. The comptroller who tried to get mefired when my wages were first seized wrote

a note expressing his respect for my standwhen he retired.

When I vigil on the corner everyMonday or refuse to pay the militaryportion of my income tax each year, Dr.King’s example is always before me,pointing out the way of nonviolence withits belief in the innate ability of people tochange their minds and hearts whenconfronted with the power of truth andlove.

Peter Smith is active with Michiana War TaxRefusers. He is a webmaster for NWTRCC andserved on NWTRCC’s AdministrativeCommittee from 2002-2005. ▼

…Making of an ActivistContinued from page 6

WTR Profiles

NWTRccP.O. Box 150553Brooklyn, NY 11215(800)269-7464(718) 768-3420

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By Peter Smith

was a product of the 50’s: Civil Defensedrills, the Red Menace, McCarthyism,super patriotism, Korean War, etc. I

joined NROTC in college so my parentswould not have to pay my tuition andbooks. I had two younger sisters theyneeded to send to college. I did not likeNavy life and resigned after spending therequired four years in serv ice, although mypolitics were as right wing as ever. While Iwas in the Navy we had to endure count-less counter-insurgency lectures, as themilitary advisors were already startingtheir work in Vietnam. I arrived at theUniversity of Wisconsin in the fall of 1964and immediately joined a group calledYoung Christian Students (YCS), since itwas the only student group at the CatholicCenter.

The YCS group at Wisconsin was veryreflective and at the same time very actionoriented. We were encouraged to take onprojects that would help alleviate someinjustice at the University. Some of theseprojects were next to impossible. One of myfriends and I tried to figure out how to stopstudents from wasting so much food in thedining hall. But, by tackling projects whichseemed unattainable, I learned that it is notsuccess that is important, but commitmentto do what seems to be right and constantquestioning of that commitment bydialogue with those who hold other views.Although I didn’t know it then, thiscommitment and questioning is at the heartof the nonviolent lifestyle.

It was during this time of intense reflec-tion/action that we heard that MartinLuther King Jr. had been beaten andattacked by police dogs when he and a smallgroup of his followers had tried to marchfrom Selma to Montgomery. This news elec-trified the nation, and young people fromall over the country piled on buses totravel to Alabama to march with him. Butthe buses were all redirected to Wash-ington, D.C. Dr. King only wanted thosetrained in nonviolent direct action to bewith him. He was afraid that untrainedhotheads would retaliate violently againsthis oppressors, and the civil rights move-ment would lose its moral high ground.

The YCS group rented a bus and trav-eled to Montgomery when Dr. King decided

The Making of an Activistto open the march on its last day to all whosupported his movement. That march was aconversion experience for me. I had toovercome my fear and engage in my firstnonviolent direct action. The line of marchwas several people abreast and stretched asfar as the eye could see in both directions.

We flowed out into the square in front ofthe Alabama capitol with its confederateflag flying high overhead and spent theafternoon listening to speeches by verycommitted individuals, including Dr.King himself.

I was to hear Dr. King again inChicago a few years later, when he wasspeaking out against the Vietnam War,

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Peter Smith and his wife, Ellyn Stecker, at Camp Casey South Bend (IN), January 2006. Photo by Danile Martins.

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