Reference Materials For Nonviolent Demonstrations
From the Iraq Peace Pledge (2002):
I agree to the following guidelines in opposing war on Iraq:
- Our attitude will be one of openness and respect toward all we
encounter in our actions;
- We will use no violence, verbal or physical, toward any person;
or
- Our actions and words will not dehumanize any person or cause harm,
injury or further isolation;
- We will not destroy or damage any property;
- We will carry no weapons;
- We will not bring any drugs or alcohol, other than for medicinal purposes;
- We will not run or resist arrest; we will remain accountable for
our actions as a means of furthering our witness to the injustice of this
war.
From the Nevada Desert Experience Nonviolence Covenant (1999):
As a participant, I agree to abide by the following nonviolent discipline, and as part of the preparation for this witness, I will reflect on these commitments:
- We will harbor no anger but suffer the anger of the opponent.
- The term opponent is borrowed from Gandhi and is meant to indicate one with whom we are in opposition but whom we do not consider to be an enemy. We will refuse to return the assaults of the opponent.
- We will refrain from insults and swearing.
- We will protect opponents from insults or attack.
- If arrested, we will not resist.
- If arrested, we will behave in an exemplary manner. We will not evade the legal consequences of our actions.
- As members of the nonviolent demonstration, we will follow the directions of the designated coordinators. In the event of a serious disagreement, one should remove oneself from the action.
- Our attitude as conveyed through words, symbols and actions will be one of openness, friendliness, and respect toward all people we encounter, including police officers and Nevada Test Site workers.
- We will not damage any property.
- We will not bring or use any drugs or alcohol.
- We will not run or use any threatening motions.
- We will carry no weapons.
- We will not engage in symbolic blood pouring.
- Plans for our activities are shared with the "authorities."
From School of the Americas Watch Nonviolent Discipline (1999):
As participants today, we will reflect upon and abide by these commitments:
- At all times, we will use our anger at injustice as a positive nonviolent force for change.
- We will refuse to return the assaults -- verbal or physical -- of those who oppose or disagree with us.
- We will refrain from insults and swearing.
- We will protect those who oppose us from insults or attack.
- If arrested, we will behave in an exemplary manner. We will not evade the legal consequences of our actions.
- As members of the nonviolent demonstration, we will follow the directions of the designated coordinators. In the event of a serious disagreement, we will remove ourselves from the action.
- Our attitude as conveyed through words, symbols and actions will be one of openness, friendliness, and respect toward all people we encounter, including military personnel, police officers and members of the larger community.
- We will not damage any property.
- We will not bring or use any drugs or alcohol.
- We will not run or use any threatening motions.
- We will carry no weapons.
From Pax Christi Omaha Pledge of Nonviolence (1991):
As a member of this community gathered, to give witness at SAC, I agree to the following pledge as part of my preparation for participation.
- We will harbor no hatred or anger but suffer the anger of the opponent.
- We will refuse to return the assaults of the opponent.
- We will refrain from shouting, insults and swearing.
- We will protect opponents from insults or attack.
- If arrested, we will behave in an exemplary manner. We will not evade the legal consequences of our actions.
- As members of the nonviolent witness, we will follow the directions of the designated coordinators. In the event of a serious disagreement, one should remove oneself from the action.
- Our attitude as conveyed through words, symbols and actions will be one of openness, friendliness, and respect toward all people we encounter, including police officers, sheriffs, state troopers and SAC security personnel.
- We will not bring or use any drugs without prescriptions.
- We will not run or use any threatening motions.
- We will not carry anything on ourselves that could be construed as a weapon.
- Plans for our prayerful witness are shared with the authorities.
The term "opponent" is taken from Mahatma Gandhi and is meant to indicate one with whom we are in opposition but whom we do not consider to be the enemy. The enemy is the sinful activity, not the person(s) involved in it.
Suggestions from the DPTJC web site (2001):
Here is a set of guidelines often used by groups engaging in nonviolent actions.
- We will carry no weapons.
- We will not vandalize.
- We will not use or carry alcohol or illegal drugs.
- We will not swear or use insulting language.
- We will not run in public or otherwise make threatening motions.
- We will not assault - either verbally or physically - those who oppose or disagree with us, even if they assault us.
- We will protect those who oppose us from insult or attack.
- We will honor the emergency decisions of the empowered coordinators and spokescouncil representatives.
- Our attitude as conveyed through words, symbols, and actions will be one of respect towards all.
- We know this action is part of an ongoing, protracted campaign.
- We will return to our communities and renew our work for peace with justice.
Ground Zero Center for Nonviolent Action NONVIOLENT COMMITTMENT STATEMENT (2002):
In preparation for nonviolent presence at _________________________ today, I commit myself to:
- Refuse to engage in verbal abuse or physical violence.
- Pledge not to bring or use any drugs or alcohol other than for medical purposes.
- Carry no weapons.
- Refuse to retaliate if injured.
- Maintain a spirit of openess, friendliness and respect toward police officers, court officials, and all others I encounter.
- Share my message of peace with clarity.
- Listen with my heart fully present and alert.
- Remain gentle, never righteous or hostile.
- Keep in mind that transformation and conversion to peace must begin with my own life.
- Sustain this discipline throughout all consequences, even under the legal violence of the state.
From Earth First NONVIOLENT DIRECT ACTION (2002):
Nonviolence requires a code of integrity. Everyone involved must agree to a common set of principles, or the media may focus on the bad conduct of a few participants rather than the original reason for the action. Even worse, the actions of a few who provoke the police may result in unforeseen violence and increased criminal charges for the whole group. Be careful who you work with, and get everyone to agree on a set of guidelines such as the following:
- At no time should anyone physically or verbally assault anyone, resist arrest or contribute to escalating violence by the police, workers, management or bystanders.
- Once committed, blockaders should not move even if it means their arrest; stand your ground. To break and run not only defeats the purpose of your action, it may endanger others by encouraging a game of "chicken" when those whom you are trying to stop become convinced that you will not stand your ground. Don't put yourself in a dangerous position unless you are willing to face danger without moving. Otherwise, choose a less risky method of expression.
- No drugs, alcohol, or weapons should be brought to any Earth First! action.
- Identify potential arrestees ahead of time, have a list of their names and home addresses, and pair each of them up with a support person who can be responsible for their keys and IDs, monitor and record their arrest using a camera or video if possible, and follow them through the legal process until they are released on bail or on their own recognizance.
A Nonviolence Code of Ethics
A nonviolent discipline usually asks participants in demonstrations to abide by certain rules, such as these:
- We will regard each individual as a human being with dignity.
- While not denying our feelings, we will harbor no hate. Should others express violence toward us, we will not return violence.
- We
will protect others from attack. We will be alert to the people around us
and will be aware of when others need assistance. We will support each other
in peacekeeping.
- We will not use threatening motions.
- We will not carry any weapons.
- Our attitude will be open and friendly, showing respect toward all people we encounter, including law enforcement officers.
- We accept responsibility for our nonviolent actions.
- For a definition of Code of Ethics, clike here
Nonviolence Agreement
Each large action typically has its own nonviolence agreement, but below is one that has been used at many actions with
some notes on what they mean. These guidelines for action form an agreement between the participants of the action
about what behavior is acceptable. When every affinity group agrees to these guidelines, then everyone in the action
knows what they can expect from everyone else. By having a clear set of criteria, it is easier to know who belongs at the
action — those individuals or affinity groups who do not adhere to the guidelines can be asked to leave (by the
nonviolence monitors or others).
By making it clear in advance to ourselves, the opposition, and others that we will be nonviolent, spelling out exactly
what that means, acting that way, and insisting that everyone act that way at our actions, we make it easy to deny
accusations of violent behavior and we build a reputation as being nonviolent and trustworthy.
- Our attitude — as conveyed through words, symbols, and actions — will be one of openness, friendliness, and respect towards everyone we meet.
This includes both people we are working with and our “opposition”
before and during the action. You should at least be able to pretend friendliness
and lovingness. If you need to rage at authority figures, go do it somewhere
else — it is not useful at this action.
- We will use no violence, verbal or physical, toward any person.
Violence includes insults, snide comments, snottiness, guilt-tripping, obnoxious gestures and facial expressions.
- We will not damage property.
The issue of property damage tends to shock and appall people.
- We will not bring or use any drugs or alcohol other than for medicinal purposes.
We want everyone to be as clear-headed as possible and we want the issue of illegal drugs to be moot.
- We will not run.
This means both that we will not run away and that we will not
run from place to place — running tends to get people’s adrenaline flowing
and to think that there is something exciting going on that they should run
to also — encouraging a mob response.
- We will carry no weapons.
These are not rigid rules but guidelines for action. There may be situations where it makes sense to run, etc. You and your affinity group must use your own judgement.
Duty of the Peacekeepers.
- Peacekeepers are the mother hens of the nonviolent community. They watch
for trouble before it can be trouble, and help diffuse any problems early
enough to keep them small or non-existent.
- Peacekeepers are responsible for watching the emotional tone of the action and when noticing persons getting upset should calmly approach and sensitively attempt to help
people in resolving their conflicts and concerns.
- At a demonstration, peacekeepers may gently keep people informed
as to the legal areas of protest and serve as a mediator between law enforcement
officers and the protestors in keeping the demonstration orderly. If there
is a counter-demonstration, peacekeepers may serve as buffers between the
opposing protestors.
- If violence begins to break out, it is the responsibility of
peacekeepers to nonviolently intervene and calm the situation. Actually,
in such an emergency, every participant in a nonviolent action should act
as a peacekeeper.
Finally:
- Be alert to problems.
- Move quickly to protect people. Look around you, right now! Know that we cannot protect everyone that will be at the event.
For more:
- Web Sites:
- The Nonviolence Web
-
Google
-
The War Prayer, By Mark Twain
- Reading List:
- Tolstoy, Leo; [1894, 1984] The Kingdom of God is Within You. Lincoln, NE. University of Nebraska.