The Boston Globe carries an obituary for Cynthia Foster, who at 99 years old was still resisting war taxes:
When Mrs. Foster died at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center following a massive stroke, she was still engaged in her longtime battle with the Internal Revenue Service over the use of her federal taxes for military spending, [Andrea] Bird said. She was 99 and had been living at Mount Pleasant Home in Jamaica Plain.
A member of the New England War Tax Resistance for many years, she wore its red and white button “every day of her life,” Bird said. The button says “Don’t Pay War Taxes” and bears the likeness of Henry David Thoreau, who spent a night in jail for protesting the use of taxes to finance the Mexican-American War.
Mrs. Foster’s battles with the IRS were legendary.
In , the Globe reported that Mrs. Foster demonstrated in front of the Union Warren Savings Bank opposite Boston Common after the IRS had notified her a levy would be put on her savings there for nonpayment of taxes.
“I refuse to support this insane military madness,” the Globe quoted her. “It must be stopped. I will not throw my money down this bottomless pit, down a rathole. I am pleased to say that today the IRS is getting only a bit over $100 because I have contributed my savings to life-supporting, peace-promoting, community, and human service organizations.”
A memorial service will be held at at Community Church of Boston.
The date of the service — traditionally the last day to file income taxes — was not deliberate, said Carol Hebb, but is “very ironic.”
Bird said, “Cynthia would have loved it. Anything to draw attention to a cause.”
