10/15/01

At their regularly scheduled meeting for business held this day,

Friends approved the following statement:

We are horrified by the events of September 11th, the loss of life at the World Trade Center, the Pentagon and rural Pennsylvania.  We are heartened by the heroism of fire fighters and police workers and by the solidarity and compassion shown toward those who are suffering.

We call for uniform standards of Justice and Truth.  We ask that those responsible for these acts of terrorism be tried in an international court.  We can most honor the heroism and anguish of our society by breaking the cycle of violence, which began long before 9/11.

University Friends Meeting (Quakers) opposes the bombing of Afghanistan.  The current U.S. bombing campaign will only inflict further suffering on the world and compound the cycle of violence.  Finally we applaud the courage of elected officials who publicly oppose the bombing and offer non-military alternatives.