[mgj-discuss] Iraq Pledge of Resistance: text of Civil Disobedience Pledge

[David Levy]

http://www.peacepledge.org/
Join the Iraq Pledge of Resistance!
Introduction
After months of growing public and international debate, President Bush has now made it clear that he intends to take the U.S. to war against Iraq, and that everyone else needs to either join him or get out of the way.
As individuals who work for peace and justice, and who oppose further devastation being visited upon the people of Iraq, we invite you to stand in the way of this mad rush to war. We invite you to join us in the Iraq Pledge of Resistance, a campaign to build a network of nationally-coordinated, nonviolent civil disobedience to oppose President Bush’s plans for war on Iraq.
The Iraq Pledge of Resistance is modeled in part on the Pledge of Resistance that was used effectively in the 1980s to mobilize opposition to the U.S.-sponsored wars in Nicaragua and El Salvador. It is an opportunity to publicly withdraw our consent from the Administration’s war plans, and to demonstrate that opposition in a deeply moving and politically effective way. Following in the tradition of nonviolent resistance of Gandhi and King, it is our intention, through mass, coordinated nonviolent action, to create the conditions under which the public and members of Congress can recognize the terrible destructiveness, and immorality, of a war against Iraq. And, as Gandhi and King did, we will use the most powerful symbols that ordinary citizens have at our disposal: our own bodies, and, at least temporarily, our freedom.
With the list still in formation, current national sponsors of the Iraq Pledge of Resistance include the Education for Peace in Iraq Center, Fellowship of Reconciliation, Global Exchange, Interfaith Network of Concern for the People in Iraq, Lutheran Peace Fellowship, National Network to End the War Against Iraq, Pax Christi USA, Peace Action, Resource Center for Nonviolence, Voices in the Wilderness, and the War Resisters League. 
Attached you will find the Iraq Pledge of Resistance forms (both civil disobedience and legal protest), a list of Frequently Asked Questions which will explain the campaign in more detail. A legal memo for organizations that wish to organize a nonviolent action will be available by September 20.
We sincerely hope that your organization will join us, and decide to organize nonviolent civil disobedience as part of the nationwide Iraq Pledge of Resistance. If you would, please return the simple form you can download on the left, along with any questions you might have, to pledgecoordinator at starpower.net. We are planning a national public launch for the campaign no later than early October, and would like to hear from all interested local groups as soon as possible, so that we might help fan the flame of resistance to this terrible, impending war.
Thank you again, and for all you do for peace and justice.


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Iraq Pledge of Resistance: Civil Disobedience Pledge


If the United States sends combat troops, invades by proxy,
bombs or otherwise significantly escalates its intervention
in Iraq, I pledge to join with others to engage in acts of
nonviolent civil disobedience at U.S. Federal facilities,
Congressional offices, military installations and other
appropriate places.


I pledge to engage in nonviolent civil disobedience in order
to prevent or halt the death and destruction such U.S. military
action causes the people of Iraq.


I agree to the following guidelines in opposing war on Iraq:


1) Our attitude will be one of openness and respect toward
all we encounter in our actions.


2) We will use no violence, verbal or physical,
toward any person.


3) We will not destroy or damage any property.


4) We will carry no weapons.


5) We will not bring any drugs or alcohol,
other than for medicinal purposes.


6) 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.


Signed, your name