[Congressional Bills 116th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H. Res. 611 Introduced in House (IH)]

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116th CONGRESS
  1st Session
H. RES. 611

  Supporting the goals and ideals of ``National Nonviolence Week'' to 
        raise awareness of youth violence in the United States.


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                            October 1, 2019

     Mr. Lewis (for himself and Mr. Ryan) submitted the following 
resolution; which was referred to the Committee on Oversight and Reform

_______________________________________________________________________

                               RESOLUTION


 
  Supporting the goals and ideals of ``National Nonviolence Week'' to 
        raise awareness of youth violence in the United States.

Whereas teaching youth the practice of nonviolence may encourage a more peaceful 
        society and promote principles of mutual respect, unity, dignity, and 
        equality;
Whereas the practice of nonviolence has been instrumental in promoting unity, 
        safety, and equal rights in various movements across the globe;
Whereas the impact of the civil rights movement, particularly in the Southern 
        United States, continues to serve as an example of the power of 
        nonviolence philosophy and how it may be used to create change;
Whereas the Sojourn to the Past program annually takes high school students to 
        the historic locations of the civil rights movement, teaching them how 
        the practice of nonviolence influenced the civil rights movement by 
        mitigating discrimination, violence, hatred, bigotry, and inequity in 
        schools and communities across America;
Whereas students visit historic sites in Atlanta, including the Martin Luther 
        King National Historical Park, where students are able to learn about 
        the life of Dr. King and his impact on American history;
Whereas Atlanta served as an epicenter during the civil rights movement, and 
        other Southern cities such as Selma, Birmingham, Jackson, Montgomery, 
        and Nashville also have historic monuments and sites relevant to the 
        civil rights movement;
Whereas the goal of the Sojourn to the Past program is to inspire students to 
        become civic leaders with a duty and ability to unite people in their 
        communities in equality and justice through knowledge, understanding, 
        and compassion;
Whereas the Sojourn to the Past program has afforded participating students with 
        a life-changing experience and serves as a catalyst for them becoming 
        activists and applying nonviolence principles throughout their lives and 
        professions;
Whereas the Youngstown Sojourn to the Past students successfully petitioned the 
        Youngstown School Board, the Youngstown City Council, and the Youngstown 
        State University trustees to declare the first week in October each year 
        to be Nonviolence Week;
Whereas the Sojourn to the Past program has afforded participating students with 
        a life-changing experience by allowing them to visit the American South 
        and serves as a catalyst for them to become activists and apply 
        nonviolence principles throughout their lives and professions;
Whereas youth violence is becoming increasingly common in American society, the 
        practice of nonviolence may serve as a tool to dismantle egregious acts 
        such as school shootings and other forms of mass shootings, bullying, 
        and the continued violence plaguing American communities;
Whereas, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (in this 
        resolution referred to as the ``CDC''), youth violence is common, and 
        nearly one in five high school students reported being bullied on school 
        property in the last year;
Whereas, according to the CDC, youth violence results in considerable physical, 
        emotional, and economic consequences;
Whereas, according to the CDC's nationwide Youth Risk Behavior Survey, about 6 
        percent of students had been threatened or injured with a weapon on 
        school property one or more times during the 12 months before the 
        survey;
Whereas youth violence can significantly inhibit a child's access to education 
        and their ability to feel safe, secure, and confident in an academic 
        environment;
Whereas sexual violence on college campuses is a pervasive issue plaguing the 
        American education system and impacts both men and women;
Whereas hostility toward homosexuality and gender nonconformity continues to 
        plague gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender youth and adults in the 
        United States;
Whereas gun violence is an issue that continues to impact all Americans, with 
        one-third of gun deaths being homicides and hundreds of mass shootings 
        occurring annually;
Whereas thousands of Americans have died as a result of gun violence and 
        families have been impacted by egregious acts of gun violence and youth 
        have been particularly vulnerable to its impact in their schools;
Whereas the practice of nonviolence is one that may be beneficial to people of 
        all age groups, and beneficial to American society overall in combating 
        increased violence and loss of life in our society; and
Whereas the principle of nonviolence has been a core philosophy of many 
        successful social change movements: Now, therefore, be it
    Resolved, That the House of Representatives--
            (1) supports the goals and ideals of ``National Nonviolence 
        Week'' to raise awareness of youth violence in the United 
        States and the benefits of practicing nonviolence principles; 
        and
            (2) encourages the people of the United States, State and 
        local officials, middle schools and high schools, law 
        enforcement agencies, and other interested groups to observe 
        National Nonviolence Week with appropriate programs and 
        activities that promote awareness and prevention of youth 
        violence.
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