Virtual Workshop on Genocide and War Tax Resistance

US TAXES ARE FUNDING GENOCIDE IN GAZA & THERE’S A GRASSROOTS MOVEMENT TO RESIST PAYING TAXES

The growing grassroots movement involves refusing to pay income taxes in protest of the US government’s complicity in Israel’s genocidal campaign in Gaza.

While withholding all or part of one's federal income tax is not legal, it is being done within a context claiming that paying taxes to the US Government at this time amounts to aiding and abetting genocide, as well as war crimes and crimes against humanity, all of which are illegal under international law. It is also in violation of US domestic law, such as the Foreign Assistance Act.

This virtual workshop will discuss possible ways for the National Lawyers Guild (NLG) to become involved in this movement, by offering legal advice to people engaged in genocide/war tax resistance. It’s another way for the NLG to be the legal arm of the people’s movement and to keep the Palestine solidarity movement’s momentum going when the protests in the street are no longer taking place on a daily or weekly basis.

There are ethical implications involved in lawyers, law students and legal workers offering legal advice to people thinking of engaging in illegal behavior. Therefore, there will be discussion of the legal ethics concerns at issue.

Speakers:

Lincoln Rice, Coordinator of the National War Tax Resistance Coordinating Committee (NWTRCC), which has been engaged in war tax resistance for decades

Peter Goldberger, legal counsel to NWTRCC

Suad Abdel Aziz, NLG Vice President, Member of the Executive Committee & Palestine Subcommittee