Annual Report 2010.Indd
Total Page:16
File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb
Finances RL was in the thick of this year’s renewed antiwar with members of Civilian Soldier Alliance and the Catalyst fervor nationwide in the face of the Obama admin- Project. WRL also participated in an Iraq Veterans Against WRL’s single most important source of income remains W istration’s failure to disengage from Afghanistan and Iraq. the War (IVAW) organizers’ training, in which G.I. resis- contributions from supporters and members: individual We played a key role in organizing around the United Na- tance organizers—including vets, service members, and gifts, sustainer gifts that provide support on a regular basis War tion’s Nuclear Nonproliferation Treaty Review in May in civilian allies—worked tirelessly on the framework for a over the year, and bequests. Many members include WRL national campaign to stop the deployment of troops with New York City, and provided a signifi cant presence at the in their estate planning, and bequests are divided such that PTSD or other forms of trauma. In addition, WRL contin- U.S. Social Forum in Detroit in July. We strengthened our one half is put into our endowment, which is invested in ued its support for the three current G.I. coffeehouses in international work with the participation of a member of socially responsible funds. Resisters Norfolk, Virginia, Ft. Lewis, Washington, and Ft. Hood, Texas, WRL’s executive body on the War Resisters’ International Upon request, WRL staff can provide information as well as for the G.I. Rights Network, which receives daily Council. As usual, we published important resources, in- on all the ways members can contribute to our work. calls from G.I.s across the country. cluding WIN, our quarterly magazine, our annual Peace As always, we are grateful for the financial support • At the start of the tenth year of the U.S.-led war in Af- League Calendar that doubles as an organizing tool, and a new ghanistan, Organizing Coordinator Kimber Heinz worked of our members and supporters, as you make it pos- nonviolence resource. Internally, we took important steps sible for us to continue the vital work of resisting war. with other organizations to coordinate international days to ensure our future ability to work against war and its root of action against the war. In New York City, WRL held a FINANCIAL REPORT causes by developing a new strategic plan for organizing press conference and dinner in partnership with IVAW and April 1, 2009 - March 31, 2010 and fundraising. the South Asia Solidarity Initiative. At the press conference, a multiracial, cross-movement group of political fi gures, INCOME WRL on the Ground/ journalists, and organizers spoke out about the war with Contribution/Grants .................................................. 207,652 National Organizing the message that the ongoing U.S. military presence in Bequests/Endowment ................................................ 175,104 Major efforts in which WRL participated this year included Afghanistan is “bad for Afghan people of all genders, bad Literature/Calendar Sales .............................................57,375 support for nonviolent direct action against the nuclear for U.S. soldiers, and bad for the people of the United Special Events ....................................................................9,061 industry, ongoing civilian ally organizing in support of a States”. In addition, WRL members and locals across the Magazine Subscriptions/Ads ..........................................1,615 veterans- and service members-led G.I. resistance campaign, country organized and participated in local and regional Misc/Other ........................................................................3,605 events, actions, and marches against the U.S. occupation. TOTAL INCOME ........................................................454,412 and coordination for international days of action in solidar- ity with the people of Afghanistan to mark the beginning • WRL organized and led nonviolence trainings for No- EXPENSES of the tenth year of occupation. vember’s School of the Americas Watch annual weekend- long demonstration at Ft. Benning, Georgia, where we also Anti-Militarism/GI Resistance Support ................ 57,922 • On May 1–3, WRL organized a weekend of nonviolent Field Organizing/Movement Building ........................93,745 distributed WRL literature and were among the thousands protest and movement building leading up to the U.N. in front of the gates protesting the continued existence of Promoting Nonviolent Social Change .......................47,332 Nonproliferation Treaty Review Conference in New Literature/Calendar ......................................................44,604 the Western Hemisphere Institute for Security Coopera- York City. We partnered with the South Asia Solidar- tion, as it is now called. WIN Magazine ................................................................70,529 ity Initiative on a workshop, led by anti-mining activists Other Program ...............................................................8,314 from India, Canada, and the U.S., titled “The Nuclear • WRL is taking part in a coalition of progressive groups Fundraising/Promotion .................................................61,073 Cycle—the Negative Effects from Mining to Militarism,” from across the spectrum—including other antiwar Administrative/Offi ce ....................................................72,363 which discussed the nuclear issue from the perspective groups, unions, community organizations, and immigrant TOTAL EXPENSES .....................................................455,882 of global land and environmental struggles. With the justice organizations—to create a national campaign to message “No Nukes: Begin with U.S.,” WRL organizers push for cuts to the military budget and reallocation of You may obtain copies of our fi nancial statement from the New from all over the country participated in a direct action those funds to serve community and human needs. It York State Charities Bureau, 41 State Street, Albany, NY,12207. at Grand Central Station on May 3, and distributed more is tentatively called the “New Priorities” campaign, and than 3,000 leafl ets. Twenty-one participants were arrested WRL will soon be looking to you for thoughts on what a in a die-in that highlighted the effects of nuclear weapons strong peace economy looks like from the perspective of and communicated a message of solidarity with the rest nonviolence and anti-imperialist movement building. WRL WAR RESISTERS LEAGUE of the world. WRL organizers also supported anti-mining is also working on an organizers’ training that will look 339 Lafayette St., New York, NY 10012 movements through a direct action at the Los Alamos at the root causes of war and help local organizers build (212) 228-0450 • fax: (212) 228-6193 National Laboratory on the anniversary of the bombing their skills in connecting to campaigns like this one. The [email protected] • www.warresisters.org of Hiroshima, which was organized by Think Outside the fi rst training will be held in New England, and soon after, Bomb, and through work with anti-uranium mining orga- with the support of members and our national organizing War Resisters League affi rms that war is a crime against nizers in New Mexico on creating a U.S. nuclear cycle map. team, in a town near you! humanity. We therefore are determined not to support any kind • In July, WRL had a vibrant presence at the second U.S. All of these actions complemented local protests by of war, international or civil, and to strive nonviolently for the Social Forum in Detroit, where members gathered to WRL members around the country, who organize against removal of all the causes of war. support cross-movement strategizing and relationship militarism and foster peace through constructive program building. We organized and led workshops on drones and work in their communities. This year the Organizing Net- COVER: WRL members in antinuclear march, May 2, 2010, and as part robotic warfare, counter-recruitment, G.I. rights, and a work welcomed new members, including WRL Albuquer- of a die-in at Grand Central Terminal, NYC, against Afghanistan and special session on antiwar movement strategy conducted Iraq wars, May 3, 2010. PHOTOS BY ELLEN DAVIDSON 2010 ANNUAL REPORT que and the Oklahoma Center for Conscience. The WRL Antiracism Task Force focused on antiracist organizational military entrance testing. The fall “Inform Your Action” in May, at which we nak (Personnel Committee) and Eric Stoner (Publications development and is working on a book, to be released next issue featured reviews of documentary fi lm, poetry, and gave our 2010 Peace Committee). The National Committee is WRL’s highest year, on the links between racism and militarism. nonfi ction, plus a conversation with activist-musician Ryan Award to Voices for decision-making body and meets twice a year in New York WRL’s print and online resources continue to inform Harvey, whose work protests war and supports civilians and Creative Nonviolence City. It is made up of ACC members, representatives of the and inspire. We recently published a new leafl et on the basics soldiers working for peace. founder Kathy Kelly, Organizing Network , and at-large members from around of nonviolence. Currently, Kimber Heinz is working with who was in New York the country. members of the Counter-Recruitment Task Force and the War Tax Resistance City for the NPT WRL remains a vital resource for war tax resisters (WTR) ELLEN DAVIDSON YA-YA (Youth Activists Youth