Take the Pledge to reject War lobbies in Southern California

In Southern California alone, hundreds of millions of our federal tax dollars are funding genocide, mass surveillance, and unchecked ICE raids at the expense of affordable healthcare, housing, and education, all thanks to the influence of war lobbies like AIPAC, DMFI and Palantir.  It’s time to invest in people, not war. 

Take the Pledge

Right now, our Tax Dollars Fund a System of Violence

The war lobby is a powerful system of weapons manufacturers (like Lockheed Martin), tech companies (like Flock and Palantir), and foreign interest lobbies (like AIPAC and DMFI) who influence politicians to prioritize military spending and endless conflict over domestic needs—all for corporate profit.

Every year, billions of American tax dollars go to:

  • Funding governments committing genocide and war crimes

  • Endless wars abroad that benefit weapons manufacturers and defense contractors and inflict extreme suffering and destruction on civilians

  • Military equipment for local police departments (over $7 billion transferred through the 1033 Program)

  • Surveillance technology tracking our every movement (Flock cameras perform 20 billion vehicle scans monthly)

  • Violent ICE operations that deploy combat-grade weapons and a $30 million Palantir AI system

  • The same weapons used in Gaza deployed at our southern border

Imagine What We Could Build Instead

  • Universal healthcare for all Americans

  • Access to higher education and trade schools

  • Affordable housing and infrastructure repair

  • Mental health services and addiction prevention treatment

  • Well-paying clean energy and infrastructure jobs 

  • Support for veterans' care and transition services

  • Quality public education with well-paid teachers

  • Community programs addressing root causes of poverty and violence

I pledge to vote and advocate alongside thousands of others in Southern California to take back power from war lobbies like AIPAC, DMFI, and Palantir, starting with the 2026 California primaries.

By signing this pledge and providing my contact information, I agree that Organize for Peace may share my information with its key partner organizations to use to administer this pledge, send me reminders and updates about voting, elections, and civic participation, and conduct get-out-the-vote and related nonpartisan voter engagement activities.

Frequently Asked Questions

  • You will:

    • Receive information directly from Organize for Peace on where candidates stand and their connections to war lobby money ahead of June primaries and November generals

    • Help the Reject War Lobby coalition to deliver pledges to elected representatives and candidates ahead of the 2026 California primaries

    • Get connected with local organizing efforts and campaigns in your area

    • Get connected on community building, social, and networking events throughout the year

  • This campaign is a grassroots collaboration between organizations across Southern California, like Organize for Peace, Orange County Justice for Palestine and others working together to dismantle the war machine and build an economy not reliant on weapons production, militarization, and surveillance of our communities. Our coalition is growing so reach out if you want to be a part of it.

  • The average American household pays approximately $1,738 to the Department of Defense annually. The U.S. spends more on defense than the next 9 countries combined.

    • Military equipment for local police (over $7 billion transferred through the 1033 Program)

    • Surveillance networks like Flock cameras tracking 20 billion vehicle scans monthly

    • ICE's $30 million Palantir AI system that pulls data on all Americans—not just immigrants

    The war machine isn't just "over there"— it's here in Southern California, militarizing our police and surveilling our communities.

  • The war lobby is a powerful system of weapons manufacturers, tech companies, and foreign lobbies who influence politicians to prioritize military spending and endless conflict over domestic needs—all for corporate profit. This includes:

    • Weapons manufacturers: Boeing, Lockheed Martin, Raytheon, Northrop Grumman, Anduril

    • Big Tech: Palantir (Peter Thiel), Flock Safety, Amazon, OpenAI, Elon Musk's companies

    • Foreign lobbies: AIPAC (largest) and other groups registered under FARA

    • Think tanks: Atlantic Council, Brookings Institute, CNAS, AEI—funded by weapons manufacturers

    These groups influence policy through campaign contributions and lobbying, funneling billions into weapons and wars while communities lose resources for healthcare, education, and infrastructure.

  • We don't believe any corporate, special interest, or foreign money should influence politicians to prioritize anything over their constituents' ability to live healthy, thriving lives. Period.

    Today, the war lobby is the biggest source of election influence on our politics. It impacts every single American by siphoning our tax dollars away from community needs  and robbing us of representation in the face of millions in lobbying dollars.

    We're not opposed to defense. We're opposed to war lobbies having more say than the people in this country.

  • The costs are staggering:

    • Service members face PTSD, mental health crises, high rates of overdose and suicide

    • Communities lose resources for healthcare, education, and social services

    • An economy reliant on permanent war means constant conflict and casualties

    • Immigrant communities face militarized enforcement with combat-grade weapons

    • Civilians in conflict zones suffer from U.S.-funded weapons

    The system exploits those who serve while weapons manufacturers profit, without addressing root causes of conflict or ensuring veteran wellbeing.

  • Absolutely, we’re always looking to broaden and strengthen our coalition. You can reach out at partnerships@organizeforpeace.org

  • The billions currently spent on weapons could transform our communities:

    • Universal healthcare for all Americans

    • Free public college and trade schools

    • Affordable housing and infrastructure repair

    • Mental health services and addiction treatment

    • Clean energy jobs and climate solutions

    • Quality education with well-paid teachers

    • Support for veterans' care and transition services

    These investments would create MORE jobs while improving quality of life.

  • Yes. In Riverside and San Bernardino Counties alone, there are approximately 10,766 military jobs. These could become careers that build communities:

    • Healthcare workers and mental health counselors

    • Renewable energy and infrastructure workers

    • Teachers and youth program coordinators

    • Public transportation engineers and technicians

    • Social workers and community organizers

    Studies show that investing in education, healthcare, and clean energy creates more jobs per dollar than military spending. The transition would maintain employment while redirecting skills toward solving challenges like climate change, healthcare access, and infrastructure development.

  • Through the 1033 Program, the Department of Defense has transferred over $7 billion in military equipment to 8,000+ police departments—for free. This includes:

    • 79,288 assault rifles

    • 205 grenade launchers

    • Armored vehicles and MRAPs (designed for combat in Iraq/Afghanistan)

    • Night vision equipment

    The same weapons designed for war zones now patrol American streets. Studies show departments with more military equipment use more aggressive tactics. 89% of police departments now have SWAT teams—a massive increase since the 1960s when they were rare.

  • Mass surveillance systems are tracking all residents, not just suspects:

    Flock Cameras: Deployed in 5,000+ communities, these automated license plate readers perform over 20 billion vehicle scans monthly. They photograph every passing vehicle and log location/time data shared across law enforcement. Oakland has 293 cameras installed. In 2025, Flock was caught sharing data with ICE for immigration enforcement.

    Palantir AI: ICE's $30 million "ImmigrationOS" pulls data from tax records, Medicaid, driver's licenses, Social Security, and license plate readers. The system doesn't distinguish between immigrants and citizens—creating a dragnet that catches everyone. The same company provides AI to Israel's military for targeting in Gaza.

    These systems track your movements, who you associate with, and where you go—without warrants.

  • The U.S. spends more on its military than the next 9 countries combined—far exceeding what's needed for actual security. Much of this spending goes to weapons manufacturers' profits, not defense needs.

    Real security comes from:

    • Investing in communities and addressing root causes of conflict

    • Building diplomatic relationships

    • Ensuring veterans receive proper care

    • Creating jobs that serve people, not weapons production

    The current system keeps us in permanent war and militarization while weapons contractors and tech companies profit and communities suffer.

  • After signing the pledge, you’ll get connected to several opportunities to get plugged in:

    • Contact representatives: Demand they vote against military budgets and war lobby money

    • Vote: Vote in the 2026 primary for candidates that aren’t influenced by the war lobby

    • Attend town halls: Ask direct questions about where your taxes are going

    • Pressure local officials: Join pressure campaigns to reject 1033 military equipment and surveillance contracts in our cities

    • Educate your community: Share where tax dollars actually go

    • Be in Community: Connect with others who've taken the pledge. There are lots of us.