Tyneside Stop the War Coalition

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Pledge of Resistance

Introduction

We know that mass civil disobedience has helped to limit, terminate, and in some cases prevent direct US military intervention in the past. We need a campaign that can build mass civil disobedience. Those who lost their lives on 11 September deserve justice, not vengeance.

ARROW, in conjunction with the Non-Violent Resistance Network, has launched a 'Pledge of Resistance' to the ongoing US/UK 'war on terrorism'. We invite people who are prepared to engage in nonviolent direct action against this dangerous and repressive war to sign the Pledge of Resistance as soon as possible.

The Tyneside Stop the War Coalition supports a Tyneside Pledge of Resistance, to pledge to taking action or providing support for others taking action against any US/UK attack on Iraq.

Citizens inspected a secure compound used by military nuclear warheads convoys,
at Albemarle Barracks in Northumberland, on 14th December 2002

Civil Disobedience

The Pledge is a network of resistance. By signing, and by resisting, we can help to limit and perhaps prevent military action against Iraq. The pledge nationally is sponsored by ARROW (Active Resistance to the Roots of War): see their website for a fuller introduction and further notes on the need for non-violent resistance.

Non-violent civil disobedience rejects any actions that would harm or dehumanise another person. It means risking arrest, conviction, a fine and/or prison in actions such as sit-ins, blockades, war tax refusal, fence-cutting and so on. This is an incomplete list, part of a spectrum of nonviolent action which individual pledgers can choose from.

Support can mean financial support, court support or prison support. It can mean taking part in vigils and demonstrations, holding public meetings or writing letters to decision-makers. The feedback form allows you to contact the Court Support coordinator for the coalition directly, if you can offer support for anyone arrested and facing court action because of their anti-war campaigning work.

Text of the pledge

EITHER

I pledge to take part in nonviolent civil disobedience in the event of a US/UK war on Iraq

OR

I pledge to support people in my community taking part in nonviolent civil disobedience against a US/UK war on Iraq

Signing the pledge of resistance

You can sign the pledge of resistance either to take part in civil disobedience or as a supporter. You will find a copy of the pledge to download and sign in the leaflets & resources page.