IV 

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; 


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•HRES 611 IH 

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; 


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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; 


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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 

1 Resolved, That the House of Representatives— 

2 (1) supports the goals and ideals of ‘‘National 

3 Nonviolence Week’’ to raise awareness of youth vio4 lence in the United States and the benefits of prac5 ticing nonviolence principles; and 

6 (2) encourages the people of the United States, 

7 State and local officials, middle schools and high 

8 schools, law enforcement agencies, and other inter9 ested groups to observe National Nonviolence Week 


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•HRES 611 IH 

1 with appropriate programs and activities that pro2 mote awareness and prevention of youth violence. 

Æ 


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