(85-5) PLEDGE OF RESESTANCE RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, in the resolution “Plight of Central Americans,” passed at the 1984 national assembly, it was resolved that “:groups and individuals (would be encouraged to) prayerfully consider responses appropriate to their own consciences” in regard to human needs of Central Americans, and

WHEREAS, the Pledge of Resistance is a nationwide contingency plan to block or halt U.S. intervention in Central America, and

WHEREAS, the Pledge of Resistance is a pledge to engage in acts of nonviolent resistance and protest if the U.S. significantly escalates its intervention in Nicaragua or El Salvador – more specifically the national headquarters of Sojourners in Washington, DC would use the following criteria to signal the implementation of the plan:

1. Direct involvement of U.S. ground forces in El Salvador or Nicaragua,

2. Invasion by U.S. proxy forces in El Salvador or Nicaragua,

3. Air attacks by U.S. forces against Nicaragua,

4. Massive bombing in El Salvador by U.s. forces,

5. Remaining of the harbors of Nicaragua, or

6. Naval blockage of Nicaragua,

and

WHEREAS, the Pledge of Resistance is a nationwide movement in which the signers are willing to participate in nonviolent civil disobedience or give witness and support to those who participate in the civil disobedience, and

WHEREAS, the guidelines of nonviolent civil disobedience are:

1. No use of violence, verbal or physical, toward any person,

2. No damage of property,

3. No use of any drug or alcohol other than for medicinal purposes, and

4. No weapons,

and

WHEREAS, encouragement of nonviolence training programs will be made in which particular methods of disobedience and the above guidelines will be stressed,

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED THAT this assemble and all LSM-USA affiliated groups educate themselves on the issues of Ventral America in light of their Christian beliefs and if so moved, sign the Pledge of Resistance for witness and support or for civil disobedience.

SUBMITTED BY:  LSM members at U of Iowa

SPONSORED BY:  The North-Central Region, LSM-USA