STATEMENT by the MINNEAPOLIS and TWIN CITIES MEETINGS, RELIGIOUS SOCIETY OF FRIENDS, for consideration by their members, supporters and other like minded citizens

We must speak and act again now to oppose war preparations and taxation for such military endeavors. This decision is based upon our faith in a God of love, our traditional religious ideals, our moral commitments as citizens, and our belief in international law.

As the Society of Friends stated to King Charles II of England in 1660: "We utterly deny all outward wars and strife and fighting with outward weapons, for any end or under any pretense whatever. This is our testimony to the world." More than three centuries later, we still endeavor to live "in virtue of that light and power that take away the occasion for all wars," as advised by George Fox, the founder of the Society of Friends (Quakers).

Relevant also to the contemporary world are the principles of Nuremberg which hold all citizens responsible for the discernible consequences of their own behaviors and for those of their governments. We, as Friends, have always held this belief.

Warlike methods elicit warlike behaviors in response. As Albert Einstein so rightly contended, "One cannot simultaneously prepare for war and prepare for peace." As Friends, we reject warfare and violence as means to resolve societal problems. The personal commitment and witness of many can make governments realize that their citizens do not want war anymore and can inform them that their constituencies will no longer support war with their bodies, tax and investment monies, occupation energies and talents, and votes.

Thus, we are called to non-violent protest in response to preparations for war. We recognize lovingly that individuals must conscientiously weigh their own commitment to these traditions in the light of their own personal situations and obligations. Yet we are asking all members of our Meetings to practice some form of war tax resistance:

1) To withhold all or a portion of our Federal Income Taxes that go to pay for war, shifting these resources from preparation for war to the meeting of human needs;

2) To aid and support others who refuse to pay war taxes, for conscience sake;

3) to make every effort to reduce our federal tax liability through contributions to peace-oriented and life-affirming endeavors;

4) To reduce our affluence through less than full-time occupations or by other means to diminish income to or below the level of tax liability, releasing thereby time and energy to devote to endeavors related to domestic and international justice and peace, living simply so that others in the world may simply live;

5) To support and seek passage in Congress of the legislation which would establish the alternative World Peace Tax Fund for receipt of funds from citizens who cannot in conscience aid in the preparations for modern warfare; and

6) to include letters of protest with our income tax statements as well as to inform the President and our Senators and Representative that we no longer can in conscience share complicity for the current preparations for war.

Our government and others seem prepared to bring catastrophe to humanity and nature through the use of devastating weaponry. We recognize that those who for religious reasons refuse to pay taxes for war are committing acts of civil disobedience. We, members of the Twin Cities and Minneapolis Friends Meetings, affirm that civil disobedience through war tax resistance is an appropriate witness to our religious precepts and is an expression of deep concern for our country's future.

We ask all citizens of other faiths to consider carefully these conclusions to which we have come and to act in the light of their own consciences.