Thread by @upsaurav

1/ When I say I work in "peacebuilding", I often get asked what is "peacebuilding"? For #InternationalDayOfPeace , I thought it'd be appropriate to give examples of one of the strategies @afsc_org has used to build peace throughout it's 101-year history. #ThisIsPeacebuilding

2/ Today, I want to talk about @afsc_org strategy of quiet support of non-violent social movements. For instance, throughout the civil rights movement, the similarity of social ideals of MLK & AFSC led them to work on the same side of racial issues. #ThisIsPeacebuilding

3/ In 1959, @afsc_org sponsored MLK's visit to India – a pilgrimage to the places associated with Gandhi. AFSC representative, James Bristol, accompanied him throughout. He said MLK's visit & the reception he received confirmed MLK's nonviolent convictions. #ThisIsPeacebuilding

4/ In 1963, after being jailed leading a non-violent demonstration, MLK was criticized by 8 white religious leaders. In response, he wrote "Letter from Birmingham Jail." @afsc_org published and distributed thousands of copies before March on Washington. afsc.org/story/india-bi…

5/ Supporting MLK and the Civil Rights Movement, helped evolve @afsc_org understanding of nonviolence. Originally seen as a testimony against war, the stand against violence expanded to include the roots of violence-injustice, poverty, and oppression. #ThisIsPeacebuilding

6/ @afsc_org was one of the principal endorsers of the Poor People’s Campaign, providing resources & working directly with MLK and SCLC to develop the campaign platform. After MLK's assassination organizers continued the campaign in MLK’s honor. #ThisIsPeacebuilding

7/ @afsc_org supported the Vietnam anti-war movement through radical action/research of NARMIC, a group of power researchers affiliated with AFSC, who for two decades exposed truths about the US defense industry. #ThisIsPeacebuilding
afsc.org/story/publishe…

8/ The idea of “action/research” was to uncover & publish facts for the purpose of action. NARMIC researched companies profiting from the Vietnam War and published material that antiwar activists could use to put pressure on various aspects of U.S. society. #ThisIsPeacebuilding

9/ In 1972, NARMIC produced a slideshow called “Automated Air War” that became one of the main organizing tools for many parts of the antiwar movement. The script and slides were used to engage people emotionally and intellectually. #ThisIsPeacebuilding

10/ During the mid-70s, @afsc_org played a key role in teaching nonviolent resistance to the Clamshell Alliance, which stopped the Seabrook nuclear power plant in New Hampshire. #ThisIsPeacebuilding

peaceworks.afsc.org/anti-nuclear-c…

11/ These non-violent resistance tactics, including the role of non-violent training, use of Affinity Groups, Practices of consensual decision making, and decentralized structure would inspire future non-violent movements like OWS . #ThisIsPeacebuilding
vimeo.com/173935815

12/ @afsc_org National Women's Program (NWP) worked to make AFSC an active participant in a range of policy impact efforts that characterized the feminist movement of the 1970s. #ThisIsPeacebuilding
afsc.org/sites/default/…

13/ @afsc_org had been unequivocally supportive of reproductive freedom since the issue emerged on the public stage. In 1971, AFSC also joined with other religious organizations in an amicus brief before the Supreme Court in the case of Roe v. Wade. #ThisIsPeacebuilding

14/ As part of the progressive wing of the feminist movement, @afsc_org 's NWP also sought to link the issue of abortion with other reproductive rights, and to emphasize the disproportionate impact that restrictions on abortion had on poor women. #ThisIsPeacebuilding

15/ NWP played a similar role in the women’s anti-violence movement. @afsc_org staff were involved in the earliest days of attempts to support women threatened by abusive partners. #ThisIsPeacebuilding
afsc.org/story/creating…

16/ From resettling Jewish refugees in the US during the 30s to aiding Japanese internees during WW II, to organizing migrant farm workers in California, the rights and well‐being of migrants and displaced persons have always been central to @afsc_org work. #ThisIsPeacebuilding

17/ In the late 1970s, @afsc_org began work at the U.S.–Mexico border and in 1987 our Immigration Law Enforcement Monitoring Program (ILEMP) was one of the first efforts to address human-rights abuses by the U.S. Border Patrol. #ThisIsPeacebuilding
friendsjournal.org/2007164/

18/ Today, @afsc_org immigrant activists and allies work to expose and challenge the injustices of the US immigration detention and deportation system and advocate for profound change that promotes the rights and dignity of people. #ThisIsPeacebuilding afsc.org/key-issues/iss…

19/ Other example's of @afsc_org support to non violent social movements, includes liberation movements like the anti-apartheid movement. @africasacountry has a great article about some posters that @afsc_org helped to create for the boycott. africasacountry.com/2013/12/poster…

20/ Through this thread, I hope folks are able to get a sense of what one kind of #peacebuilding looks like! If you are interested you can learn more here: peacebuilding.live/pb-cover. Follow @afsc_org and I hope everyone has a great #InternationalDayOfPeace #ThisIsPeacebuilding ✌️

@afsc_org Compile @threadreaderapp