REFUSING WAR
Since 2003, when the war in Iraq broke out, Payday has organized or joined a number of international campaigns working with some organisations in the Global Women's Strike (GWS) to support soldiers and conscientious objectors who refuse to fight or men and women who refuse conscription.
We have supported individual campaigns in many countries including Turkey, Greece, Israel the US and the UK. These campaigns were almost always led by women - partners, mothers, sisters, relatives. For many years, with Queer Strike, we joined an international and successful campaign to free Chelsea Manning, a transexual army analyst who leaked thousands of classified military files to Wikileaks.
We have also worked to defeat legislations that punish refuseniks or that exonerate war crimes. We have also opposed rape within the military and military families as well as the mistreatment of soldiers and veterans.
FOR MORE INFORMATION on our support to past campaigns by & with refuseniks, visit www.refusingtokill.net, our former website. For an overview, watch our 2005 video Refusing to Kill - Refuseniks around the world speak out
Despite being stripped of citizenship, Rohingya are being dragged into the military, even those who fled to Bangladesh. “I don’t feel safe. If I pass through government checkpoints they will force me to serve in military. I just stay in my home to avoid arrest.”
By Payday
On 17 May, as part of the action weeks around the International Conscientious Objection Day (celebrated on 15 May), Payday will join the International Jewish Anti-Zionist Network’s weekly protest to highlight the struggles of refuseniks in Israel and Russia, Ukraine, Belarus, the US, Myanmar…
By Palestine Chronicle
At least 30 Israeli paratrooper reservists have refused to answer their call-up to participate in a planned ground attack in Rafah in the southern Gaza Strip, Israeli media reported on Sunday [28 April].
By Veterans for Peace
Support Larry Hebert, VFP member and Senior Airman who took a month’s leave from his duty station in Rota, Spain, to start a “Fast for Gaza” in front of the White House.
By Payday
Tal Mitnick has been imprisoned for his refusal to participate in genocide against the Palestinian people. We therefore urge you to release Mr Mitnick, recognise his conscientious objection and stop punishing him for refusing to join the IDF.
By Palestinian and anti genocide organisations in Italy
On 11 February 2024, there was a demonstration in Feltre, a 22,000 people small town in North East Italy. 400 people marched under the driving rain with the banner from Palestinian Community that reads: “The last day of the occupation will be the first day of freedom”.
By Payday
Payday joined the International Jewish Anti-Zionist Network’s weekly picket at the Israeli ambassador’s residence in London. We publicised the campaign of support of Israeli refuser Tal Mitnick initiated by War Resisters International. Send a message to him!
By War Resisters International
Tal Mitnick was first imprisoned for 30 days on 26 December 2023, becoming the first Israeli conscientious objector imprisoned for their refusal to serve in the army since the start of the war in Gaza. On 23 January 2024, he was detained again.