May 1, 2006

Atlanta City Council Passes Resolution Supporting US Department of Peace and Nonviolence

Atlanta, GA. The Atlanta City Council, by a 12-2 vote, passed a Resolution today in support
of creating a U.S. Department of Peace and Nonviolence. The Resolution, offered by Cheryl
Tarr, State Coordinator of the Georgia Alliance for a U.S. Department of Peace, specifically
referenced two bills currently in several committees in Congress. HR 3760, the House version
of the bill, has 64 co-sponsors, including Georgia Representatives John Lewis (D-GA 5th) and
Cynthia McKinney (D-GA 4th). It's counterpart in the Senate, S. 1756, is virtually identical to
the House bill and has two co-sponsors.
The Resolution, originally introduced April 17th by Councilmember Felicia Moore, passed the
Finance and Executive Committee on April 26, on a 3-2 split vote. Today's vote, however,
represents near unanimous support for creation of a US Department of Peace and Nonviolence.
"I think that Atlanta," Tarr said, "is once again at the forefront in the peace and
civil rights movement. We talk about peace, justice, and equality a lot in this town," she
continued, "the Atlanta City Council has just proven we mean what we say."
If established, the Department of Peace would research and analyze foreign policy for the
Secretary of Peace, whose primary international responsibility would be to recommend to the
President ways to address the root causes of war and propose nonviolent means of resolving
conflict. A Peace Academy, on par with the Military Academies, would train civilian
peacekeepers and support the military with complementary approaches to ending violence.
Domestically, the Department would be a funding partner in government to address issues
such as child abuse, domestic violence, gang violence, and cultural and racial violence with
proven programs and practices. Statistics reveal that each year, medical expenses from
domestic violence alone total at least $3 to $5 billion. Businesses forfeit another $100 million
in lost wages, sick leave, absenteeism and non-productivity due to domestic violence.
Teaching violence prevention and mediation to America's school children is just one of the
many ways a U.S. Department of Peace would reduce violence in our country.
The Georgia Alliance for a U.S. Department of Peace is affiliated with The Peace Alliance, a
non-partisan, non-profit organization leading the effort to establish a U.S. Department of
Peace. Established in 2004, the Georgia group has about 350 supporters statewide, and
Atlanta joins a growing number of cities from around the country that have passed similar
resolutions. "The United States remains a global leader in so many areas," Tarr said, "it is
only fitting that we lead the world in the pursuit of real peace, and it is only fitting that Atlanta
helps lead the states in convincing Congress that now is the time for a U.S. Department of
Peace and Nonviolence."
For more information on this legislation and The Peace Alliance, please visit The Peace
Alliance website at: www.thepeacealliance.org.