IV 
117TH CONGRESS 
1ST SESSION 
H. RES. 715 
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 8, 2021 
Ms. WILLIAMS of Georgia (for herself 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 en-
courage 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 715 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 non-
violence influenced the civil rights movement by miti-
gating discrimination, violence, hatred, bigotry, and in-
equity in schools and communities across the United 
States; 
Whereas students visit historic sites in Atlanta, including the 
Martin Luther King National Historical Park, where stu-
dents 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, Bir-
mingham, 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 com-
passion; 
Whereas the Youngstown Sojourn to the Past students suc-
cessfully 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 par-
ticipating students with a life-changing experience by al-
lowing them to visit the American South and serves as 
a catalyst for them to become activists and apply non-
violence principles throughout their lives and professions; 
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•HRES 715 IH 
Whereas, as youth violence is becoming increasingly common 
in United States 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 United States com-
munities; 
Whereas according to the Centers for Disease Control and 
Prevention (in this resolution referred to as the ‘‘CDC’’), 
youth violence is common, and nearly 1 in 5 high school 
students reported being bullied on school property in the 
last year; 
Whereas according to the CDC, youth violence results in con-
siderable physical, emotional, and economic consequences; 
Whereas according to the CDC’s nationwide Youth Risk Be-
havior Survey, about 7.4 percent of students had been 
threatened or injured with a weapon on school property 
1 or more times during the 12 months before the survey; 
Whereas youth violence can significantly inhibit a child’s ac-
cess to education and his or her ability to feel safe, se-
cure, and confident in an academic environment; 
Whereas sexual violence on college campuses is a pervasive 
issue plaguing the American education system and im-
pacts both men and women; 
Whereas hostility toward homosexuality and gender noncon-
formity 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 more than one-third of gun deaths being 
homicides and hundreds of mass shootings occurring an-
nually; 
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•HRES 715 IH 
Whereas thousands of Americans have died as a result of gun 
violence, 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 bene-
ficial to people of all age groups, and beneficial to United 
States society overall in combating increased violence and 
loss of life in our society; and 
Whereas the principle of nonviolence has been a core philos-
ophy 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 vio-
lence in the United States and the benefits of prac-
ticing 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 inter-
ested groups to observe ‘‘National Nonviolence 
Week’’ with appropriate programs and activities that 
promote awareness and prevention of youth violence. 
Æ 
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