But… I want to do something! 

By Ann Kehinde, Stony Run's Baltimore Peace & Justice Committee

The month since the inauguration has been exhausting. It seems every day – or every hour! – some new action is being taken by the federal government that deserves a response. How do we prioritize which actions to address? How do we know which actions will have an impact but also be consistent with our values as Friends? *

The Peace & Justice Committee at Stony Run has been grappling with these questions and we have outlined several factors that we will consider in promoting actions to our Meeting community. These factors may also be useful to you as you consider whether to join an action that is not being promoted by the Committee.

But, first, why the caution? Isn’t it good to just do something? Not necessarily. Social media has been both a boost and a risk in organizing. It is a cheap, easy way to get the word out, but it can also fall victim to disinformation – both accidental and intentional. Further, as Quakers we want to make sure the sponsors of an action are planning a peaceful event. In addition to the obvious reasons we want the event to be peaceful, we also know that the current administration may use any violence or perceived violence as a justification to send in law enforcement or the National Guard.

So here are some of the factors our Stony Run Peace & Justice Committee considers in deciding whether to promote an event: 

• Who is sponsoring the event? If it is not clear who the sponsors are, that might be a red flag. We understand that in the current environment, there is a tension between providing information and holding back on some information so that the organizers don’t become a target. But there will still be some information as to what group(s) are sponsoring the event. 
• Are the sponsors clearly stating the event will be nonviolent? If there is a Code of Conduct or similar, are there any glaring loopholes? A word about Civil Disobedience (CD): Quakers have a long history of engaging in CD, and we approach CD as being inherently nonviolent. If the group is advocating CD, it should be clearly stated what the goal is and how that goal will be achieved without resorting to physical force or aggression.   
• Does this group have a track record of holding actions that are effective and nonviolent? This can be a tricky question. New groups emerge from challenging times. We are not saying that just because a group is new, they should not be supported. But if everyone planning the action has no experience, important considerations may be missed. If it’s a new group, do we know people we trust that are part of that new group or allied with it? Is the new group concerned with planning and taking the time to get everything in place to hold a peaceful event? Will there be people in the role of de-escalators, marshals, safety volunteers or staff? How will we know who they are? Will they be obtaining a permit to hold the event – why or why not? Generally, if you are not impeding the free flow of traffic, you do not need a permit to assemble in a public place
• What kind of language is the group using in trying to rally support for their cause? Is it inclusive? Is it inflammatory? How are they stating their goals? What is the plan for after the action? Taking to the streets is great but what are the plans to harness that energy to create lasting change?

Here are some of the factors that Stony Run's Peace & Justice Committee considers in deciding whether to prioritize the event or action: 

• Is the action being sponsored by our Meeting or another Meeting within BYM? Is it being sponsored by the wider Quaker community? 
• Is the action or event being sponsored by an interfaith or interdenominational group that Stony Run Meeting is a member of or with which members of Stony Run Meeting are actively involved? (e.g., Faith Communities with Pride, Interfaith Coalition for Black Lives, Poor People’s Campaign, etc.) 
• Does it speak to our Quaker testimonies and core values?   

Stay tuned for more information from Stony Run's Peace & Justice Committee about upcoming actions and ways to get involved. In the meantime, you can find other ways to put your faith into action here.

* For the purposes of this discussion, we mean public demonstrations when we talk about “actions” or “events” (vigils, rallies, faith-based witnesses, etc.). The Peace & Justice Committee recognizes that there are many ways to address inequities, and public demonstrations are only one of them. Lobbying your representatives on the State and Federal level (in person, by zoom, by phone, or in writing), direct service to marginalized groups (collecting food for GEDCO/CARES, tutoring, etc.), and raising money or supporting organizations that are lifting up all of the members of our communities and city, are some of the many ways Friends can be involved in addressing these challenging times. We understand that Friends will “let our lives speak” based on our skill sets, interests, time, family obligations, etc., and by focusing on public demonstrations we do not intend to minimize the importance of all other ways Friends speak truth of power.