Ferguson, Responding to the Continuing Tragedy

The grand jury has decided to not charge the police officer who shot and killed an unarmed teen in the Ferguson suburb of St. Louis three months ago. The decision and public response reveals a great deal about our broken criminal justice system and skewed media and civic grasp of the incident. A few highlights:

Grand Jury decision: A wide range of critiques are being made of the evidence and the judicial process such as bombarding jurors with mountains of contradictory testimony without any apparent effort to help focus on useful evidence, skewing the results toward dismissing the charges.

Protests: There have been significant numbers of nonviolent protests, largely ignored by the media, in Ferguson and around the country that represent positive responses and hope. The mass media also has seemed incapable of separating nonviolent protest and random violence like looting, and incapable of going beyond that coverage to the real issues of this tragedy such as the four we raised in LPF's blog post on Ferguson, issues that beg for serious attention:

Militarization of police: that separates police from the community and protesters, undercuts legitimate “protect and serve” orientation and programs, and often makes confrontations more lethal;

Racism: such as discriminatory policies in education and jobs, police behavior and incarceration rates; the protests in Ferguson and elsewhere build on decades of marginalization of young people of color and other forms of structural racism;

Skewed budget priorities: that spend money on militarized police and the highest prison rates in the world, instead of addressing the roots of racism;

Stereotypes about nonviolence and inadequate preparation and training in effective protest, especially in a context predisposed to dismiss serious protest and merge it with random violence.

The result has been a minuscule amount of media attention on the important issues like these... attention that might help move the public discussion – and civic action – in productive directions.

It is important that we don’t allow our understandable disappointment, frustration and feelings of powerlessness to get in the way of our thoughtful positive contributions. There are many positive ways we can respond:

- Share helpful information in a thoughtful manner with friends, and in comments on web and media discussions, letters to the editor, etc. (see links in this blog).  You may be surprised at how your sensible comments can stand out!

- Participate in and encourage others to support The Week of Action, Dec. 1-5, including moments of silence, vigils, dialogues, and prayers. It is a call from groups such as Hands Up Coalition, Why We Can't Wait, Code Pink, and The Peace and Justice Studies Association.

- Look for opportunities to encourage addressing underlying issues like militarized police and racism in church adult forums, community discussions, upcoming government deliberations on budgets and priorities, etc.;

- Ferguson should serve as an inspiration for us to suggest forums and workshops on nonviolence. LPF has effective, highly-regarded leaders’ guides and other materials on nonviolence. Connect with the inspiration and resources of the Campaign Nonviolence movement of which LPF is part. (See LPF Nonviolence Resources including a Shalom discussion essay, an AV-rich Nonviolence Forum or our highly regarded Budget Priorities computer-based activity. Contact us about longer trainings.)

- In all this, it makes sense to connect with other people who share your views to support one another’s processing this tragedy and its implications, and taking useful next steps.

Blessings and Peace in this worthy effort!

      Additional links to useful material:

Links on the social and historical context surrounding the events in Ferguson assembled by Sociologists for Justice, 1,600 sociologists against police brutality and racism.

“It's not just Ferguson: how the system protects police,” by Chase Madar The Nation magazine, Nov. 24, 2014.

"Will Ferguson be a Moment or a Movement?" by Fredrick Harris, Director of the Center on African American Politics and Society at Columbia University, Washington Post, Aug. 22, 2014.

“The Church and Criminal Justice: Hearing the Cries,” ELCA Social Statement on Criminal  Justice, includes a study guide 


     a couple newer useful links:

"Ferguson Activists Meet With President Obama to Demand an End to Police Brutality Nationwide," FergusonAction website, Dec. 1, 2014

"Obama resists demands to curtail police militarisation calling instead for improved officer training," by Paul Lewis, The Guardian, 12-1-14

From Ferguson to Real Change

There has been a deluge of reporting and commentary on the killing of an unarmed black teen in the Ferguson suburb of St Louis, and on the protests that followed.  Yet the way forward has been clouded by inadequate attention to at least four important issues:

1. Militarization of Police – A growing problem, visible to activists for years, has finally broken through to the media and the public.  Police have been purchasing (and receiving free from a major Pentagon program) large quantities of military style weapons. It’s gear that looks more like a Transformers movie than legitimate police equipment. It ranges from body armor and armored personnel carriers, to sniper rifles and 2nd generation tear gas.  (What Military Gear Your Police Department Bought) 

Such gear separates police from protesters, undercuts legitimate “protect and serve” orientation and programs, and often makes confrontations more lethal. It also equips, emboldens, and legitimizes the Rambo-style officers in most police depts.  Most people are shocked to learn that “roughly 137 times a day, a SWAT team assaults a home and plunges its inhabitants and the surrounding community into terror.”  (One Nation Under SWAT.)

2. Racism – Like minority communities in scores of other cities, Ferguson protests build on the frustration of people of color who have faced decades of poor education, lack of jobs and resources, and discriminatory policies that have been the root of unrest since the 1960's. (See an activist’s view of Unresolved Race and Economic Issues, or the views of this pastor or another activist.) 

One example: Blacks are pulled over by police in far greater numbers and received larger tickets than whites, and are a key reason why US incarceration rates are the highest in the world. (See the middle section of In Ferguson or Exposing the Toolbox of Racist Repression.)

3. Budget Priorities – The huge expense of race- and class-skewed policies cited above siphon money from sorely needed programs that would address underlying problems of prejudice and inequality. The list is familiar and includes greatly expanded jobs, social service, and community-building programs.

Funding for such programs must come from reducing military spending – which like all too many police and urban spending efforts emphasizes violent, 11th hour interventions that are ultimately ineffective, instead of major (but ultimately cheaper) programs to address underlying causes…. Moreover, those problems are at the heart of the ability of radical groups to find recruits.  (See From Gaza to Ferguson or Ferguson, Gaza and Luhansk, or 90-Year-Old Holocaust Survivor Arrested in St. Louis.  For clear data on spending, see tables 2 or 7 or use the full LPF Budget Priorities computer-based activity.)

4. The Essential Contribution of Nonviolence – Ferguson also exposes the still rampant illusion that nonviolent responses to conflict are nice but don’t ultimately work: “Real” problems require “real” (violent) responses.  But as Desmond Tutu put it, nonviolence is “a force more powerful” than military  – or militarized police – responses to conflict, as history repeatedly shows in both arenas.  (See LPF Nonviolence resources  from a Shalom discussion essay to an AV-rich Nonviolence Forum.)

But Ferguson also reveals inadequacies of efforts to organize and deploy nonviolence campaigns.  Activist groups have been too complacent and isolated from younger generations who lack experience with the power of nonviolent responses to conflict.  Ferguson must be a wake-up call to activist groups as well as police forces, urban planners, state and federal budget officials. (See In Ferguson, young demonstrators are finding it’s not their grandparents’ protest  and Nonviolent Protest and Accountability in Ferguson.  All this points to the importance of efforts like Campaign Nonviolence - LPF is a member - which is highlighting over 125 nonviolent actions around the US in the week following Sept. 21, the ”International Day of Prayer for Peace” – see our next blog post.  And consider participating! )

Giving up War for Peace, Worship and Nonviolent Action at Beale Air Force Base, CA

Are you "giving anything up" for Lent this year?  A group of Christian peacemakers in California took action in an Ash Wednesday civil disobedience to urge the U.S. to give up drones for peace. To turn away from war to work for peace, justice, and the healing of the earth.

In the words of Martin Luther King, Jr. 

“My body is tired but my soul is rested.”

Former LPF Board Chair, retired Lutheran pastor and former U.S. Marine Jerry Pedersen participated in the interfaith worship service and was arrested during the nonviolent direct action against drones at the gate of Beale Air Force Base. Military drones which are remotely controlled by satellite from bases in the US have repeatedly killed and injured scores of civilians abroad.

Actions of faith and conscience are good for the soul.  Rev. Sharon Delgado reports:

"We were quickly detained by Beale officers, taken to the guard station, cited, and released. When entering the station I greeted the officers with the words, 'Peace be with you.' We all treated each other respectfully and with good humor, with the understanding that they were doing their job and we were doing ours." 

"The young guards were impressed with Jerry's military card, which shows that he was part of the Honor Guard on the U.S.S. Missouri during the WWII surrender of the Japanese. As we were arrested, supporters were singing 'I'll be rested when the roll is called,' with the names of people who have worked for peace and justice through the ages. May it be so for all of us. May we find rest for our souls in the midst of the violence of our times."

You can read more about this Ash Wednesday Anti-Drone Protest and Arrest and statements of the issues here: http://sharondelgado.org/tag/beale-air-force-base/, also see KCRA’s coverage of the service here, and a video of the arrests below:



Rev. Sharon Delgado speaks:


see also these resources from LPF:
Resources about Nonviolence
Peace Resource Lists
Peace Links

Congressional budget compromise . . .

Most of the country seems relieved that Congress will depart from DC with a budget deal. Their recess is actually an ideal time for them to hear a holiday message from constituents who care about the gospel call for us to be justice seekers and peacemakers. 

Indeed, There is a lot to celebrate about Congress negotiating its way out of yet another painful budget standoff. But the details are pretty sobering as well. Here’s a brief summary of the budget deal: 

The plus side: It doesn't cut Social Security, Medicare, Medi- caid, etc. And it backs away from over two years of destructive actions: Fiscal cliff, debt limit, sequester, government shutdown... all very damaging to many programs -- and with the threat of default, they put both the U.S. and the global economy at risk.

On the negative side: The budget deal does nothing to reduce defense spending (or call for even the most obvious tax increases; or close tax loopholes). We are thus denied the resources needed to address the nation’s #1 priority: putting people back to work, esp. to help us take serious steps toward forstalling climate change, to expand renewable energy, to build infrastructure, to enhance rather than cut the safety net even further… 

Yet the budget deal allows unemployment benefits to expire for 1.3 million long-term unemployed workers. It leaves the sequester cuts largely in place -- which consigns most safety net programs to reduced levels and vulnerable to further cuts. The budget agreement is more a cease-fire than a solution to our budget dilemmas. 

What makes this especially unfortunate is that cutting the military budget offers a way out. It has huge programs that are wasteful. Others are unneeded in the new global security environment. A few notable programs are larger than even the Pentagon requested! This doesn’t point to thoughtful decision-making by Congress. Rather it’s evidence of the enormous influence of defense contractor lobbying. 

Our priority this month is experiencing the real meaning of Advent and Christmas. Spending time with family, congregation, and friends... 

Let’s also agree to share this information in our church groups and among friends. Let's use the Congressional recess to speak with our elected officials about bloated defense spending; and stingy levels to protect and serve the most vulnerable in our society. That's a holiday message our members of Congress need to hear!

Peacemakers Wanted!

In next few months we face an important set of public dis-

cussions and votes in Congress. The good news: the subject

 is both straightforward and familiar,  federal budget priorities.

  The bad news:  crucial safety net programs are again under

 threat,  while more reasonable solutions are again being

 ignored, like long overdue cuts in military spending. 

And much of the media isn’t very helpful in clarifying
even the most basic issues.  One could easily believe the
only question is deciding how much to cut Social Security. . .
or Medicare. . .  or food stamps. . .  Pres. Obama is portrayed
as a big spender; yet he has increased the deficit less than
any president in 50 years.  So what is missing here? 

Here’s how one commentator responded:  “No mention of the 

bloated ‘Defense’ budget… or the obscene tax breaks for wealthy 

people and corporations… or the Wall St. criminals who stole our 

future…  Nope, it's Grandma and her Social Security checks that 

are to blame.” (William Rivers Pitt, Truthout)  It isn’t likely we’ll
have the serious discussion we need concerning the real issues.

The ELCA, LPF, and hundreds of other faith based groups are 

calling for a “Circle of Protection” around key safety net programs 

like food stamps and WIC. We at LPF have a crucial contribution 

to make: despite big changes in the world, US defense spending 

hasn’t been reduced in ages – compared to major rivals, it is 4 

times what China and over 7 times what Russia allocate!  Cuts 

there could solve our budget problems, create more jobs, fund 

clean energy, support efforts to prevent wars… all of which 

would make us stronger and safer.  Members of Congress 

who share that view need our support; those locked in 

the status quo need our solid, sustained advocacy.

Download a copy of this advocacy update. Please contact us for more information and links on these issues:  For example, you might want to check out our newly updated computer-based activity on budget priorities which has received rave reviews from adult forum leaders across the country. It has worked equally well as a community event.  The computer activity is on our website or available from us on a CD – both have a leaders guide offering discussion options, handouts, tips. . .

Lutheran Peace Fellowship, 1710 11th Ave., Seattle 98122
 lpf@ecunet.org 206.349.2501, www.lutheranpeace.org

---

December 1. 2013

This year's theme is: 

"WORKING FOR YOUR RIGHTS."

"Where we come from does not determine who we can become. What we look like places no limits on what we can achieve. We should all have the right to express ourselves, all have the right to be heard, all have the right to be what we can be: To reach for the sky and touch the stars. No matter who we are, no matter whether we are man or woman, or rich or poor:
My voice, my right. My voice counts."

—Desmond Tutu, a key figure in the defeat of apartheid in South Africa, Nobel Prize Laureate, first black Archbishop of South Africa.

Links:
In honour of Human Rights Day this year, OUP have put together a selection of human rights related content ranging from journal and books articles across several disciplines to online products content from Oxford Bibliographies and University Press Scholarship Online.

They've made select content freely available for a limited time. Browse below and start reading immediately. http://www.oxfordjournals.org/page/5570/8

UN sites:

Human Rights (UN website)

Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights - Human Rights Day 2013

Universal Declaration of Human Rights

60 human rights instruments which together constitute an international standard of human rights.

Related sites:

Campaign for U.S. Ratification of the Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC)

Defence for Children International

World Day of Prayer and Action for Children

Lutheran resources:

Addressing Racism: Challenge for Peacemakers

Goodsoil

Lutheran Human Relations Association

Lutheran Immigration and Refugee Service

Reconciling Works

ELCA:

ELCA Ethnic Specific and Multicultural Ministries

Human Dignity and Human Rights

Human Rights and Family  - Journal of Lutheran Ethics - February 2009 issue

Human Rights - CSR program

videos:

>

New Opportunities . . . Dangerous Politics

updated Oct 5th

Just when citizen input might do some good, 

the political process seems consumed by all the 

partisan drama in Washington, DC.   And indeed, 

there are a remarkable number of new opportunities 

for peacemaking and justice seeking.  We should 

not stop encouraging our elected officials to: 

*Support international efforts to remove Syria's
chemical weapons, end the fighting, and provide aid
for civilians impacted by this war – especially refugees.

*Find ways to address the role of Syria's worst 

drought in 70 years in aggravating the humanitarian

impact of the war; these problems aren't separate.

*Pursue new openings for diplomacy with Iran.

*Pass a U.S. budget with significant and long- 

overdue cuts in defense spending.

*Push through sensible gun control legislation in 

the wake of the horrific Navy Yard mass shooting.

Now is the time to encourage our friends and

congregation members to join us in advocating

for movement on whichever of these issues 

they feel strongly about . . .

And, of course, we and our nation
are confronted by another problem
with huge peace and justice impact:

Our voice is also needed urging Congress to act 

now to end the government shutdown that has cut so
many vital services, and threatens an even more damaging
default.  And Congress needs know we strongly oppose ending
the shutdown at the expense of key service programs, especially 

for the most vulnerable.  As the default deadline approaches, 

careful reflection on America’s needs can be undercut by 

last minute – and often back-room – negotiations. The 

House voted to defund Obamacare without such open

discussion. And it has voted for a $40 billion cut to

SNAP (food stamps), one of the most effective – 

and efficient – programs serving those in need.

While we should trim spending where we can 

(and the Pentagon is one place!), many program cuts 

being considered would seriously hurt many Americans, 

especially the most vulnerable, and actually endanger the 

economic recovery. The focus should be on jobs, not 

cuts to programs like Medicare, Medicaid, Social 

Security, and vital safety net programs.

The U.S. is at a critical moment. Our friends 

and members of our congregations probably need 

encouragement to set aside all the inducements to

just “zone out” on these issues. We can support 

and inspire one another as we each contact 

our elected officials and share our sense 

of where their focus might be, e.g.: 

new opportunities for 

peacemaking... justice

for the poor... jobs....
 

download this advocacy update as a pdf

---

"At heaven's door, St. Peter is probably not going to ask you much about what you did about keeping government small. But he is going to ask you what you did for the poor."  E.J. Dionne quoting John Kasich, Republican Gov. of Ohio, and a top lieutenant in Newt Gingrich's revolution in the 1990s.

A few especially helpful sources:

“Why the Government Shutdown Is Unbiblical”
by Jim Wallis, Sojourners, http://sojo.net/blogs/2013/10/03/why-government-shutdown-unbiblical

“8 Reasons Democrats Should Refuse a Shutdown ‘Grand Bargain’ ”
by Richard Eskow, Campaign for America's Future blog, Oct. 4, 2013
http://www.commondreams.org/view/2013/10/04-3

"Lasting Damage From the Budget Fight,"
editorial, NY Times, 9-26-13
http://www.nytimes.com/2013/09/26/opinion/lasting-damage-from-the-budget-fight.html?src=recg

"A Federal Budget Crisis Months in the Planning"
by Sheryl Gay Stolberg and Mike McIntire, NY Times, 10-6-13 http://www.nytimes.com/2013/10/06/us/a-federal-budget-crisis-months-in-the-planning.html

"Obamacare's strange bedfellows"
by E.J. Dionne, Jr., Washington Post, 9-22-13
http://articles.washingtonpost.com/2013-09-22/opinions/42299449_1_medicaid-expansion-bill-john-kasich-medicaid-issue

"Free to Be Hungry"
by Paul Krugman, NY Times, 9-23-13
http://www.nytimes.com/2013/09/23/opinion/krugman-free-to-be-hungry.html?_r=0

"US-Iran: Breakthrough After Decades of Silence,"
ABC News, 9-28-13 http://abcnews.go.com/Politics/wireStory/us-iran-leaders-talk-time-1979-20401912

"The UN Needs a Larger 'War on Poverty'"
by Ralph Nader, 9-27-13
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/ralph-nader/united-nations-poverty_b_4005364.html

Other useful links:  www.billmoyers.com - http://robertreich.org/ - www.yesmagazine.org - www.truth-out.org - www.democracynow.org - www.thenation.com

Please share with others. . .    To see previous LPF blog posts . . . Further resources: www.lutheranpeace.org

Nuclear Weapons: Status Quo, Reduction, or Elimination?

Here's a fact that may prove disturbing to serious followers of Jesus, the Prince of Peace:  more than 6,000 nuclear weapons exist in the USA today, ready for deployment.

Nuclear weapons, instead of protecting us, now threaten us and people everywhere.  President Obama, without suggesting a treaty, in June 2013 proposed a reduction "by one third" of the nuclear weapons held by Russia and the USA, but Russia wants other nuclear powers to join negotiations.  Nine nations now reportedly have more than 17,000 weapons.  What options do concerned people have  for encouraging that nuclear weapons either be reduced or eliminated?

Since August is Nuclear-Free Future Month, some congregations or individuals might want to write their Congressperson urging that the US start negotiations on a treaty to abolish nuclear weapons.  It's time to consider doing so when even former “cold warriors” like Henry Kissinger, George Shultz, William Perry and Sam Nunn called for complete elimination of nuclear weapons in the Wall Street Journal in 2010.

On a more modest scale, at least 22 members of Congress are calling for significant reductions in Pentagon spending, and the nuclear arsenal probably would receive major cutbacks.  www.peace-action.org, search "nuclear weapons."

In the House of Representatives, Ed Markey introduced the "Smarter Approach to Nuclear Expenditures (SANE) Act," HR 1506, which would make cuts to spending on nuclear weapons totaling more than $100 billion over the next decade.  If your representative has not co-sponsored this bill, suggest action.  www.fcnl.org

A further request to President Obama could be that he clarify the U.S.A.'s nuclear posture by announcing that the USA will not use nuclear weapons first under any circumstances.  Nuclear Age Peace Foundation: www.wagingpeace.org

In addition, the Obama administration proposes to spend $7.87 billion on the National Nuclear Security Administration for research and maintenances of the US nuclear arsenal.  Some letters to the President might question the mixed messages.  www.nukewatchinfo.org

Other critical issues may flood the media now, but your phone calls, letters and emails about nuclear weapons deserve your efforts on behalf of the survival of humanity.

More resources:
www.icanw.org International Campaign to Abolish Nuclear Weapons
www.forusa.org, search "nuclear weapons"
www.warresisters.org, search "resources" for "Remembering Hiroshima and Nagasaki"
www.elca.org for earlier statements about nuclear weapons
www.ploughshares.org
www.globalzero.org/en
www.takepart.com/zero

From the LPF Archives:

For People of Faith: AN URGENT CALL (2003)
On August 6th we remember the anniversary of the atomic the bombing of Hiroshima in 1945.
We invite you to pray for peace.

Hiroshima-Nagasaki Day of Prayer for Peace, Bulletin Insert (2005)

Animation of Nuclear History