Last week during the Smith Hall protests, angry individuals got in Bekah Hawley’s face and threatened her with violence. Hawley stated if she and others in the protest group hadn’t known non-violence training, the situation could have escalated quickly.

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Peace and Justice League to host nonviolent training

Staff Writer

Published: Thursday, December 10, 2009

Updated: Friday, December 11, 2009

In order to educate members of the Durham community, Hawley as well as others in Peace and Justice League and the Student Environmental Action Coalition (SEAC) are holding a non-violence training session on Jan. 24 at the Waysmeet Center.

“People got in our faces and were really angry with what we were doing,” Hawley said. “If some of us hadn’t had this training, I don’t know what would’ve happened.”

The non-violence training will begin at 2 p.m. and will last approximately six hours. During this time, participants will be taught by Arnie Alpert, a non-violence facilitator from the Americans Friends Service Committee, a non-violent Quaker organization that was nominated for a Noble Peace Prize because of its efforts for peace in World War II.

“We work closely with organizations like Americans Friends Service Committee because we have similar goals and similar ways of wanting to accomplish those goals,” Hawley said.

Alpert will help participants gain experience in sharing their views and defending their opinions in ways that won’t coerce, demean, or antagonize oppositional views in situations where violence seems imminent. Participants will also learn how to uphold their own or their organizational non-violence principles in their everyday lives.

The training will also help students learn how to resist arrest and participate in civil disobedience in a non-violent way and without physically hurting themselves and others, if they so choose to do so.

“I hope that not only will students get a better sense of how to live in non-violent ways, but I also hope that the training will open up a dialogue,” Hawley said. “Sometimes we need to re-examine methods of activism, and I hope that this training helps bring about the discussion to do that.”

Hawley, the keeper of peace in the Peace and Justice League, states that someone who lives a non-violent lifestyle abides by certain principles that in essence governs how those individuals not only handle themselves in compromising situations, but how they handle themselves in situations as simple as a class or dorm room discussion.

The Peace and Justice League has their own non-violent principles that they follow, including not hurting anyone, physically or emotionally, listening with an open mind and inviting people into a dialogue, not coercing or degrading anyone and not destroying property.

“What makes Peace and Justice League different from other peace organizations is that not only to we want an end to nuclear proliferation, and the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, but we want them to end in a non-violent way,” Hawley said.

Only three current members of the Peace and Justice have received non-violence training, including Hawley. Though Hawley predicts the training session will mostly be attended by current Peace and Justice League and SEAC members, the training session is open to the general public as well.

Lauren Banker is another Peace and Justice member who has received non-violence training in the past. During the session, she said she remembered her class being separated into circles. The first circle was designated as the proposers and the second circle was designated as the opposition, playing devil’s advocate to the opinions and beliefs of the proposers.

Banker said that the simulation demonstrated for her how different and sometimes simple situations can escalate quickly, and how living a non-violent lifestyle can help any individual, whether they are involved in activism or not.

“Sometimes disagreements can be taken out of context and people can become angry,” said Banker, a freshman anthropology major. “It’s good for people to understand that…it’s okay to disagree, just as long as all people involved agree to disagree in a calm and non-violent way. That’s why this training is so important.”

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Misinformed and nieve cuddly college student

Tue Dec 22 2009 02:12

We can end all violence throughout the world and dance under rainbows while unicorns soar through the sky. Also there's no such thing as bad people.

Bekah Hawley

Fri Dec 11 2009 14:48

I am very glad that this article talks about our upcoming training; however what I said was absolutely a misstatement. It was in no my intention to minimize or criticize any other organization, I was simply making the point that PJL was hosting a nonviolence training. In no way was my intention to imply that other organizations used violent means. In fact, one reason why I feel that this nonviolence training is so important is to continue for PJL, SEAC and anyone who wishes to come to this training, to continue to examine our methods, our actions and our intentions. Peace and Justice League, Student Environmental Action Coalition and many other organizations practice nonviolence. However, this does not mean that we cannot and should not continue to revisit nonviolence and reexamine our organizations and our own methods. In no way was my intention to imply that other organizations did not do this and in fact, do it well. Yes, PJL and AFSC share similar methods in our often shared goals; however, my statement was not indented to suggest that other organizations did not also share these goals and methods. Of course, I greatly apologize for any misconception of my statement, as it was absolutely not my intention to suggest that other organizations used violent methods only that it was important for all of us to continue to revisit nonviolence and that PJL and SEAC would be attempting to facilitate this re visitation, in this specific instance.

And, as another correction, the incident that I was referring to last week was where we encountered counter protesters was not involving Smith Hall, it was a vigil around the troop escalation in Afghanistan. In fact, this incident was not involving me, personally. It involved other members of Peace and Justice League and was handled, quite well I believe, by other members. I was there, yes, and I do believe that the experience that others have with nonviolence aided in the de-escalation of the situation, however, that is just my personal opinion and I should have made it more clear that this was my observation and my opinion rather than my personal experience.

I have a great respect for the work that many folks do and for the ways in which this work is carried out. In no way was my intention to minimize or criticize anyone. I deeply, deeply apologize if my statement was in anyway contrary to this.

David Diamond

Fri Dec 11 2009 10:35

It's great that the UNH Peace and Justice League will be holding a nonviolence training, and I commend Bekah Hawley and others on their activism. However, as a member of several peace groups, I question Bekah's statement that, in essence, all other peace groups beside the Peace and Justice League want to end wars in violent ways.

All the peace groups that I have been involved in, as well as all those I have ever heard of, are non-violent in their principles and in their actions, so I hope Bekah will make a public corection of her misstatement.

David Diamond (UNH, 64)

College Liberals Out of Control

Fri Dec 11 2009 09:01

I hope my tuition doesn't pay for this! This is more of the Obama way! Expel any kids who are violent and move on!

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