No Justice Results from Violent Revenge

September 14, 2001 - for immediate release

Toronto – The Canadian Peace Alliance today urged the President of the United States and other world leaders to secure justice for the victims of the September 11 attacks in New York City and Washington, DC by using non-violent approaches.

"The perpetrators of these crimes must be brought to justice," the Canadian Peace Alliance said. "No justice, however, results from violent revenge."

"We believe that the United States and its allies face a monumental and historic choice," commented Carolyn Bassett, Coordinator of the Canadian Peace Alliance. "Will we countenance more bloodshed? Or will we have the courage to stand together and say unequivocally that we want an end to the cycle of violence?"

Today, the Canadian Peace Alliance released its statement imploring the Government of Canada not to condone or participate in a retaliatory attack. The statement called on the Government to use its good offices to urge the Government of the United States not to seek military retribution, but to use the means provided by national and international law to achieve justice.

The statement referred to the futility of looking to new technologies or curtailing basic civil liberties to protect civilians and counselled Western governments to make a genuine commitment to ameliorate poverty, uphold individual and collective rights and seek negotiated solutions to human conflict as the only way to ensure security for all.

The Canadian Peace Alliance mourns the tragic loss of life resulting from the attacks and grieves with the families who have suffered losses and laud the brave men and women undertaking the grim tasks of rescue and recovery. It commends the efforts of people and governments in Canada to send humanitarian aid and other forms of assistance to the recovery and rebuilding efforts.

The Canadian Peace Alliance is Canada’s largest umbrella peace organization.

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