Peace Action statement on World Trade Center and Pentagon Attacks

September 12, 2001

Peace Action, as an organization that promotes peaceful, non-violent solutions to conflict, abhors the horrible attacks committed yesterday, and mourns the tragic loss of so many lives. Our hearts go out to the victims and their families. We encourage Peace Action members to donate blood or otherwise support relief efforts through appropriate agencies.

Under international law, there is no recognized right of retaliation or vengeance. The U.S. should endeavor to bring those responsible for today's attacks to justice in the courts. The U.S. should refrain from any retaliatory attack on any country or individuals it believes to have been responsible.

These terrible tragedies must not be used as a rationale for huge increases in the military and intelligence budgets at the expense of Social Security, health care, education and other human needs priorities.

Americans must resist any curtailing of our civil liberties. Of particular concern is the danger of an anti-Arab backlash. There should be no rush to judgment, no assumption that Arab terrorists were behind these acts. If they were, that is no reason to punish or discriminate against law-abiding Arab-Americans. A whole community must not be punished for the acts of a few.

Peace Action is the nation's largest peace and disarmament organization with over 75,000 members.

http://www.californiapeaceaction.org/