War Resisters League // Membership Manual by War Resisters League

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WARRESISTERS.ORG @RESISTWAR

WRL@WARRESISTERS.ORG RESISTWAR

@RESIST.WAR

B U I L D I N G A MOVEMENT antimilitarist workshops

national campaigns

grassroots media

local actions

nvda trainings

int'l networks

people power

internationalism

stopping arms trade War tax resistance

G.I. rights solidarity with occupied peoples

end police militarization non-violent direct action

countermilitary recruitment

MISSION

HISTORY

POLITIC

PROGRAMS

GET INVOLVED

SUPPORT

RESOURCES

STRUCTURE

At the War Resisters League, we affirm that war is a crime against humanity. We therefore are determined not to support any kind of war, international or civil, and to strive nonviolently for the removal of all causes of war, including racism, sexism and all forms of exploitation.

Photo by Ed Hedemann

HISTORY In 1923, Jesse Wallace Hughan founded War Resisters League as a section of War Resisters’ International to support WWI conscientious objectors—all of them men—who had refused to fight. WRL’s scope soon broadened to include all men and women who resisted fighting in and supporting war from a secular perspective. All major national peace groups of the era expressed strong political sentiment against U.S. imperialist incursions, along with burgeoning interest

Photo by Barry Lavery

in the new communist experiments globally, yet were all faith-based. Hughan and her comrades realized the great need for a secular antiwar organization that would support those objectors whose main principle against participating in war did not derive from a theological standpoint. War Resisters League filled the need for a cross-community peace organization. Today, War Resisters League is the oldest U.S. secular pacifist organization. We continue to prioritize coalition buildingâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;locally, nationally, and, as a member organization of War Resistersâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; International, globallyâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;toward our vision of a world without war.

Photo by Jonathon at nyc.indymedia.org

OUR POLITIC

Photo by Ed Hedemann

Our philosophy of revolutionary nonviolence demands change at the very roots of society. We believe in the transformative power of strategic nonviolent action within ourselves, our communities, and throughout our world. Since 1923, our member-led work for nonviolent revolution has been shaped by the new visions and strategies of each generationâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s peacemakers. History tells us the absence of war is not the presence of peace. We have seen time and again that violence does not end when you put down the gun, that war does not go away when you declare a ceasefire. We see bombings and drone strikes; more migrant deaths along militarized borders than ever before;

Photo by Ed Hedemann

aggressive militarization of police forces domestically and globally; expansion of a pernicious surveillance state; persecution of whistle-blowers world wide; and brutal repression of those calling for racial, social, and economic justice. We understand that to “remove all causes of war,” we must collaborate and stand in solidarity with peoples' movements across the globe. That’s exactly why we’ve committed to carrying out our work against all forms of war: So that together, we can weave a world that defines security in terms of equality, justice, and peace. We're glad to have you stand with us.

Photo by Ed Hedemann

PROGRAMS COUNTER-RECRUITMENT We work in coalition with counter-recruitment groups around the country to produce educational resources and training to empower young people to counter the propaganda of military recruiters in schools and communities.

WAR TAX RESISTANCE Through the National War Tax Resistance Coordinating Committee, which offers support to potential and seasoned war tax resisters, we promote the tactic of war tax resistance. This work includes the annual publication of WRL’s most widely distributed “C resource, the Where Your Income Tax Money Really Goes pie-chart flyer. WHERE YOUR INCOME TAX MONEY REALLY GOES U.S. FEDERAL BUDGET 2017 FISCAL YEAR

total outlays ( fy 2017 f e d e r a l f u n d s )

NON-MILITARY: 56%

$3,042 billion

AND

$1,687 BILLION

$197 BILLION

44% HUMAN RESOURCES

$1,346 BILLION

• Health/Human Services • Soc. Sec. Administration • Education Dept. • Food/Nutrition programs • Housing & Urban Dev. • Labor Dept. • Earned Inc/Child Credits • Health Insurance Credits • other human resources

$589

BILLION

• Veterans’ Benets $179 billion • Interest on national debt $409 billion (80% est. to be created by military spending)

• Treasury, incl. 20% interest on debt ($102 B) • Government personnel • Justice Dept. • State Dept. (partial) • Homeland Sec. (partial) • Int. Sec. Assist. (partial) • Judicial • Legislative • Allowances (proposals) • other general govt.

7% GENERAL GOVERNMENT

5% PHYSICAL RESOURCES

19% PAST MILITARY

MILITARY: 44%

AND

25% CURRENT MILITARY

urrent military” includes Dept. of Defense ($586 billion) and the military portion ($182 billion) from other departments as noted in current military box above. “Past military” represents veterans’ benefits plus 80% of the interest on the debt.* For further explanation, please go to warresisters.org. These figures are from an analysis of detailed tables in the Analytical Perspectives book of the Budget of the United States Government, Fiscal Year 2017. The figures are Federal funds, which do not include Trust funds — such as Social Security — that are raised and spent separately from income taxes. What you pay (or don’t pay) by April 18, 2016, goes to the Federal funds portion of the budget. The government practice of combining Trust and Federal funds began during the Vietnam War, thus making the human needs portion of the budget seem larger and the military portion smaller.

Non-DoD Military Spending:* • Retiree Pay/Healthcare $82 billion • DoE nuke weapons/clean-up $21 billion • NASA (50%) $10 billion • Internl. Security Asst. $13 billion • Homeland Secur. (military) $34 billion • State Dept. (partial) $10 billion • FBI military $9 billion • other $3 billion

*based on coding and the military nature of activities, such as armed border control, DoD space ights, etc.

Government Deception

Source: 1040 Forms and Instructions 2015, Federal Outlays for FY 2014

BILLION

$41 billion for Overseas Contingency Operations (“war on terror”) included in $586 DoD budget

*Analysts differ on how much of the debt stems from the military; other groups estimate 50% to 60%. We use 80% because we believe if there had been no military spending most (if not all) of the national debt would have been eliminated.

The pie chart (right) is the government view of the budget. This is a distortion of how our income tax dollars are spent because it includes Trust Funds (e.g., Social Security), and most of the past military spending is not distinguished from nonmilitary spending. For a more accurate representation of how your Federal income tax dollar is really spent, see the large graph.

BILLION

Total Outlays DoD $586 billion: • Military Personnel $146 billion • Operation & Maint. $255 billion • Procurement $103 billion • Research & Dev. $71 billion • Construction $8 billion • Family Housing $1 billion • Revolving Management $3 billion

$1,357 BILLION

HOW THESE FIGURES WERE DETERMINED

$768

$142

• Agriculture • Interior • Transportation • Homeland Sec. (partial) • HUD • Commerce • Energy (non-military) • NASA (50%) • Environmental Protection • Nat. Science Fdtn. • Army Corps Engineers • Fed. Comm. Commission • other physical resources

Social Security, retirement, Medicare 43%

Social programs 22%

Net interest 6%

Physical, human, community development 5%

National defense, veterans, foreign affairs 22%

Law enforcement, general gov. 2%

WAR RESISTERS LEAGUE 339 Lafayette Street • NY, NY 10012 • 212-228-0450 • www.warresisters.org

NONVIOLENT DIRECT ACTION We believe change happens through the strategic implementation of revolutionary nonviolent direct action. Through nonviolent direct action trainings, Training for Trainers, and resources on revolutionary nonviolent social change, WRL empowers members and individuals to build new power relations through nonviolent praxis.

DEMILITARIZE HEALTH & SECURITY Our current organizing priorities draw from both historical and current work to respond in ways that puncture a system marked by militarization and repression.

ENDING POLICE MILITARIZATION WRL’s national campaign, Demilitarize Health & Security: A Campaign to End UASI focuses on the relationship between the Department of Homeland Security grant program Urban Areas Security Initiative (UASI) and local police departments. We resist SWAT trainings (such as Urban Shield and NYTOAC), police weapons expos, and the build-up of counter-terrorism trainings and tactics within police departments. Our resistance not only aims to educate and organize, but to actively create spaces for alternative, communitybased solutions for health, resilience, and safety.

GI RESISTANCE We strive to support conscientious objectors, resisters, and all former and active-duty military personnel to build a movement against wars and militarism “from within.”

INTERNATIONALISM WRL is a member organization of War Resisters' International, a global pacifist and antimilitarist network with more than 80 member groups in 40 countries. We connect resistance to domestic and international wars by working in solidarity with movements for self-determination of occupied peoples all over the world.

LOCAL ORGANIZING War Resisters League is a national organization, powered by local affiliates, our National Committee, and the staff in our New York office. We are many people, with diverse interests, but a common goal. Plug into WRL near you!

Photo by Ed Hedemann

WRL has been the political home to many, and in the words of Noam Chomsky, fellow traveler to many more. WRL members have shaped WRL’s political program throughout our long history, influenced our philosophy of nonviolent resistance, and kept our steadfast commitment to resist the root causes of war and militarism in all forms. WRL draws from models that seek widespread coordinated thought and action, and we’re always learning from movement practitioners on the ground, forging the path as we walk together. War Resisters League’s antimilitarist prerogative challenges imperialism and war through multiple avenues. WRL envisions and builds community-based

Photo by Tara Tabassi

power through diverse action pointsâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;war tax resistance, countering military recruitment, demilitarizing local health and security systems, eliminating tear gas, and building networks supporting internationalism to realize our common struggle. We work to connect with groups who challenge militarism from a diversity of perspectives, while elevating the leadership and organizing of those on the front lines.

GET INVOLVED We need all WRL members to make our shared vision for peace and liberation a reality. Members enhance WRL’s vision for change and transform ideas into action. Consider the following possibilities for becoming involved.

NATIONAL CAMPAIGN Organize an action. Many “beyond the choir” share our values; as activists and organizers moved by a mission to challenge injustice everywhere, we must take every opportunity to activate local supporters across the country, and make our demands heard! Email ali@ warresisters.org for more information on how to bring our national campaign to your community. Share. Collectively, WRL members are a megaphone for important issues and are instrumental in mobilizing our communities to take action. Share resources for nonviolence with the people in your life, stay posted on upcoming events, and invite others to join you! Share live posts from direct actions and rallies in your community on social media!

Write. Create. Spark Dialogue. Do you have any seedlings of ideas you want to sprout into meaningful resources? Want to write an article on a perspective you see left out of the antiwar movement? Email tara@ warresisters.org for more information on generating resources to educate and increase the visibility of our national campaigns! Join WRL’s campaign working group. Want to get involved in campaign strategy, planning, and group decision-making? Email ali@warresisters.org for info!

LOCAL OUTREACH & EDUCATION Distribute WRL’s antimilitarist materials. In your community, in your parents’ community, in your child’s community … we can’t think of a single place we don’t want WRL materials to be! We need everyone to overcome the violence of militarism. Count yourself as one of those voices who will not be silent, and ask others to join you. Visit warresisters.org/store or email Linda@warresisters.org to order movement-building resources today! Host a Training for Trainers. Organize or facilitate a nonviolence training or Training for Trainers. Contact joanne@warresisters.org for more information about bringing a WRL trainer to your community.

Facilitate a workshop. Find suggestions for antimilitarism workshops and nonviolent perspectives with group facilitation at warresisters.org, or email ali@ warresisters.org for more information.

GRASSROOTS FUNDRAISING Become a donor. The best way to support WRL is to become a member by joining our monthly giving program. Small monthly gifts make the biggest impact by giving us the ongoing support we need. WRL members give an average monthly gift of $27, which allows us to continue to nonviolently resist all forms of war by removing root causes of racism, sexism, and exploitation. Join WRL’s Fundraising Committee. Have ideas about grassroots fundraising and WRL? Email emma@warresisters.org for more information about WRL’s volunteer fundraising body. Host a WRL house party or giving circle. Celebrate, spread, and support WRL’s antiwar work by throwing a WRL house party or organizing friends and neighbors in a giving circle! Email emma@warresisters.org for more information.

Make a nonviolent world your legacy. WRL members are in it for life â&#x20AC;Ś and beyond! Planned giving and bequests allow WRL the financial stability we need to plan far into the future, and offer members the opportunity to leave a meaningful legacy. Contact emma@warresisters.org for more information. Photo by Ed Hedemann

SUPPORT For more than 90 years, WRL has been able to do all this work and more with ongoing support from our members across the United States and beyond. To sustain and grow our education and organizing tomorrow and in the decades ahead, please give all that you can. We particularly invite you to join as a monthly or quarterly sustainer today: warresisters.org/donate-wrl

HOW TO BECOME A MEMBER We urge at least $36 a year from members and supporters to keep WRLâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s work going. More is always appreciated.

RESOURCES WHAT EVERY GIRL SHOULD KNOW ABOUT THE MILITARY Written for girls, queer and trans youth, youth of color and poor youth, this brochure is focused on sexual & genderbased violence: perfect for distributing at schools & community centers.

HANDBOOK FOR NONVIOLENT CAMPAIGNS This handbook includes a series of resources to more effectively develop, plan, and launch nonviolent campaigns.

WHERE YOUR INCOME TAX REALLY GOES

WHERE YOUR INCOME TAX MONEY REALLY GOES U.S. FEDERAL BUDGET 2017 FISCAL YEAR

total outlays ( fy 2017 f e d e r a l f u n d s )

AND

$1,687 BILLION

$197 BILLION

44% HUMAN RESOURCES

$1,346 BILLION

Each year, we release this pie chart after analyzing federal funds presented in the Budget of the U.S. Government. Perfect for leafleting!

NON-MILITARY: 56%

$3,042 billion

$589

BILLION

• Veterans’ Benets $179 billion • Interest on national debt $409 billion (80% est. to be created by military spending)

5% PHYSICAL RESOURCES

19% PAST MILITARY

MILITARY: 44%

AND

25% CURRENT MILITARY

$768

BILLION

Government Deception

Source: 1040 Forms and Instructions 2015, Federal Outlays for FY 2014

BILLION

$41 billion for Overseas Contingency Operations (“war on terror”) included in $586 DoD budget

$142 • Agriculture • Interior • Transportation • Homeland Sec. (partial) • HUD • Commerce • Energy (non-military) • NASA (50%) • Environmental Protection • Nat. Science Fdtn. • Army Corps Engineers • Fed. Comm. Commission • other physical resources

$1,357 BILLION

HOW THESE FIGURES WERE DETERMINED

“C

7% GENERAL GOVERNMENT

Social Security, retirement, Medicare 43%

Social programs 22%

Net interest 6% Physical, human, community development 5%

National defense, veterans, foreign affairs 22% Law enforcement, general gov. 2%

WAR RESISTERS LEAGUE 339 Lafayette Street • NY, NY 10012 • 212-228-0450 • www.warresisters.org

AGAINST AL ODDS: VOICES OF POPULAR STRUGGLE IN IRAQ WRL Organizer Ali Issa’s book features dozens of interviews and reports from Iraqi feminists, labor organizers, environmentalists, and protest movement leaders. * Like what you see? Find these and other resources at our online store, warresisters.org/store!

STRUCTURE The National Committee is the highest decisionmaking body of the WRL. Comprised of active WRL members, it is responsible for the political and fiscal health and direction of the WRL. The NC meets twice a year, in February and August. The Administrative Coordinating Committee is an intermediary body designed to implement decisions of the NC and coordinate the month-to-month activities of the administrative committees, task forces, and national office. The ACC meets monthly in the national office. Administrative Committees o Personnel: addresses human resource needs o Finance: maintains financial health o Fundraising: implements development plans Task forces are teams which address program needs for each area of our work, for example, the Counter Recruitment or International Task Force, or issues of concern, like militarismâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s relationship to racism or Queer liberation & the antiwar movement. Task Forces help to reprioritize our work with new purpose and practice. Task forces meet regularly every other week.

Task Forces o Demilitarize Health & Security o War Tax Resistance o Counter-Recruitment o Communications o International. Staff is a collective which works to develop and implement program in concert with task forces and administrative committees, organizes to expand our program and the broader movement for social change, and works to maintain and improve the functioning of the organization. Staff meets each week.