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Money Down the Drain – Robin Brookes pays under protest

Simon | 06.05.2006 14:39 | Anti-militarism | Liverpool

Having been ordered last month by Swindon Combined Court to pay the income tax he has been withholding (see  http://www.indymedia.org.uk/en/2006/04/337510.html ), Peace Tax Seven campaigner Robin Brookes and supporters made a public demonstration yesterday of how spending our taxes on preparation for war is equivalent to pouring money down the drain.

Video Robin reads his letter of protest (2 minute movie) - video/x-ms-wmv 7.2M

Money down the drain
Money down the drain

A better way to spend our taxes #1
A better way to spend our taxes #1

A better way to spend our taxes #2
A better way to spend our taxes #2

War – money down the drain
War – money down the drain

Unblock the way to peace
Unblock the way to peace

Taxes for living not taxes for killing
Taxes for living not taxes for killing

Bread and books not bombs
Bread and books not bombs

Supporters
Supporters

Tax for life not death
Tax for life not death

Outside the tax office
Outside the tax office

Conflict prevention not military action
Conflict prevention not military action

The forgiveness project
The forgiveness project

Supporters sign the letter of protest
Supporters sign the letter of protest

Money down the drain
Money down the drain

Outside the post office
Outside the post office


Around thirty supporters assembled outside the court building where last month the judge found in favour of the Inland Revenue in their claim against Robin Brookes for outstanding income tax. Local press interest was high, with photographers and journalists from the Swindon Advertiser, Western Daily Press, and BBC radio Swindon.

Accompanied by two friendly Community Support Officers, the assembled campaigners set off on a meandering route through the town centre, distributing leaflets explaining the Peace Tax Seven campaign, and carrying placards with ideas for better ways of spending the military budget – clean water, bread, education and conflict prevention.

Arriving outside the tax office in Wiltshire Court, Robin read out the letter of protest which he was to hand in to the Inland Revenue, before symbolically putting the outstanding tax money into an improvised “drain”. A small deputation took the drain, with money, to the post office to pay in, because the Inland Revenue apparently no longer accept payment at their offices.

Finally, Robin handed in his letter of protest at the tax office, although the reception staff didn’t want to let anyone in, and didn’t seem interested in talking to anyone.

Related:
Report in the Western Daily Press:  http://www.westpress.co.uk/displayNode.jsp?nodeId=146238&command=displayContent&sourceNode=146064&contentPK=14437460&folderPk=69655
Peace Tax Seven web site:  http://www.peacetaxseven.com/


Fellow peace tax protester Lis Davidson will be paying her withheld tax under protest in Liverpool on Tuesday 23rd May. Supporters are asked to assemble 12:30pm in Derby Square by the Queen Vic. Contact peacetaxprotest.lpool [at] yahoo.co.uk for more information.

Simon