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This site last updated March 30, 2012.
Ralph DiGia: Beloved staff member of WRL (December 13, 1914-February 1, 2008)

Ralph DiGia: Beloved staff member of WRL, World War II conscientious objecter, pacificst and war tax resister (December 13, 1914-February 1, 2008).

irs seizes wrl account

“We reject the role of collection agent for the federal government…[and] resent being forced to collect monies which will be used for purposes we abhor…we shall pursue a court fight against the government, which has violated fundamental rights of conscience by its most recent action against the League.”

The War Resisters League, a 51-year-old pacifist organization, announced today that on April 18, the Internal Revenue Service took over its bank account which totaled $2,259.77.

…The sum seized represents most of the federal income tax owed by WRL employees for the years 1969, 1970 and 1971—plus interest. The League had honored the moral principles of its staff members by NOT withholding federal taxes, over 60% of which go for weapons and war.

…The League consistently had refused to pay the money voluntarily. Finally, IRS located and froze the bank account and then emptied it. Yet IRS records indicate that over $1,000 additional is still “owed.”

The War Resisters League, which advocates tax resistance as one means of war protest, maintains the right of individuals to take this position, although it is legally bound to withhold taxes…

In an attempt to broaden this decision to include all tax resisters, whether religious or secular, WRL is discussing with attorneys the possibility of a class action suit against the government.

“We reject the role of collection agent for the federal government,” commented Irma Zigas, chairwoman of War Resisters League. “Nearly two-thirds of every income tax dollar is used for the military or for war materials. We resent being forced to collect monies which will be used for purposes we abhor. Obviously we will miss the funds levied from our bank account, but we plan to continue working vigorously on our current projects—amnesty, freedom for political prisoners in South Vietnam and impeachment—and on our long-range campaign to abolish war. And we shall pursue a court fight against the government, which has violated fundamental rights of conscience by its most recent action against the League.”

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