To: President Bush, Senators Schumer and Clinton, Congressman Rangel, Mayor Giuliani, and to the people of New York City, the United States and the world:

Morningside Monthly Meeting of the Religious Society of Friends (Quakers), having gathered in worship with a concern for peace and social action, is led to share with you our responses to the tragic events of September 11 and the governmental reactions to those events.

As members of the New York City community, we have personally experienced the violence of September 11th, which has devastated our friends and loved ones. We grieve with and for friends and neighbors who have been hurt and continue to hurt. We watched in horror at the violence here on September 11th. Now we are further alarmed that our own government's calculated acts might lead to yet more such violence against innocent people elsewhere. In silent prayerfulness, we urge:

First, that our government not respond to violence with further violence. We believe that a violent, vengeful retaliation will not make the world safer from terrorist threats, but will further feed the cycle of violence. The Religious Society of Friends (Quakers) has a long history of working for peace and non-violence. We believe that there is that of God in everyone, including the perpetrators of heinous acts. This belief requires us to examine the roots of violence, in order to acknowledge how policies and actions of our own government and culture help fuel the engines of violence. We seek non-violent conflict resolution founded on mutual respect, truth, understanding and reconciliation.

Second, we hold that actions focused upon the security of nations and peoples must be based on human well-being, strong international cooperation and respect for international law and human rights. Bringing the terrorists and their collaborators to justice is a legal process, not a military one. We urge our elected representatives to back away from military actions and language in their responses. "War against terrorism" is only a metaphor, not to be taken literally.

Third, we stand against violations of civil liberties and human rights that may be proposed or contemplated in reaction to the attacks, as the likelihood of injustice and greater violence overshadows any purported gains. Civil liberties and human rights are the keystones of any free society. These rights must be cherished and protected, lest we enslave society to free it.

Fourth, we abhor the mobilization of armies and navies of war, which will further hurt our planet's wounded ecology and will further worsen the inequities in the distribution of economic resources in the world. As Friends, we support economic and social justice in the world, and we deplore the waste and damage inherent in armed military deployments. Resources used to make war would be better spent waging peace.

We pray for and will actively work for widespread awareness of the alternatives for war. Although there is no military conscription enforced in this country at present, young men are still required to register with the draft service. We support those who would choose to stand against this as conscientious objectors to war. We commend Congresswoman Barbara Lee for standing up against a mandate for violent reaction, and pray that our own elected leaders will likewise pause, and carefully consider, the dangerous choices that will face them in the days to come.

We hold you and those around you in the Light, knowing that it will require great strength for you to hold back from those who demand a violent response. We pray that God will grant you that strength through the coming days and weeks.

In Friendship,

Morningside Monthly Meeting

Religious Society of Friends

Earl Hall

116th Street and Broadway

New York, NY 10027