DPJC Position Statement

No U.S. Intervention in Venezuela

Our position statement on the situation in Venezuela from the Human Rights and Justice Committee of the Dallas Peace and Justice Center.

The Dallas Peace and Justice Center notes with great concern and alarm the deteriorating political, economic and humanitarian crisis in Venezuela and calls for de-escalation of tensions through peaceful negotiations. We unequivocally reject any attempts by outside forces such as the United States to forcibly remove from office the government of Nicolas Maduro. We also assert that bloodshed must be completely averted.

We agree with Rep. Ro Khanna (D-Calif.) who has said that while "Maduro is an authoritarian leader who has presided over unfair elections, failed economic policies, extrajudicial killings by police, food shortages and cronyism with military leaders," U.S. intervention in Venezuela's internal political affairs will only "make a bad situation even worse. A long history of U.S. political and military interventions has not only destabilized many Latin American countries but also created a profound mistrust towards the United States. This has strengthened Maduro's popularity and complicated the present situation. A proper relationship between the United States and its neighbors to the south must start with mutual respect and focus on ways to help economies grow and prosper.

We urge National Security Adviser John Bolton, Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, and newly appointed Venezuela envoy Elliot Abrams—all of whom have backed authoritarians leaders, death squads, and illegal wars throughout their careers in government---not to push for regime change and instead back regional dialogue initiatives such as the one proposed by Mexico and Uruguay.

It is entirely the prerogative of the noble people of Venezuela to decide the future of their revolution, not any foreign power. All that can come from outside intervention is more chaos and crisis, and God forbid, the misery and suffering of war.

DPJC Position Statement

DPJC Statement on President Trump's Decision to Withdraw U.S Troops from Syria

The Dallas Peace and Justice Center applauds President Trump's decision to completely withdraw U.S. troops from Syria accompanied by a drawdown of troop levels in Afghanistan. We are hopeful the Trump administration will empower diplomats at the U.S State Department, led by Sec. Mike Pompeo, to maximize the considerable “soft power" the United States wields to bring all warring parties and regional powers to the negotiating table to craft a durable peace. Concurrently, a massive humanitarian and developmental aid program must be launched immediately for beleaguered Syrian and Afghan civilians emerging from prolonged strife and devastation. 

An engaged United States that relies less on military solutions and more on diplomacy could be a powerful force for good in the world. Our knee-jerk response to an international conflict must not rely solely upon our formidable military prowess.  We are at our best and the world benefits most when we remain true to our highest ideals of participatory governance, respect for the rule of law, an independent judiciary, respect for human rights and dignity, and a free press. Recognizing that people worldwide aspire for the same freedoms, rights and ideals we take for granted lays a framework for collaboration, negotiation, and mutually beneficial solutions leading to peace and justice.

DPJC Position Statement

Reaffirming Our Commitment to the Elimination of All Nuclear Weapons
August 6, 2018

In recognition of the Hiroshima bombing, the Board of Directors of the Dallas Peace & Justice Center wishes to reaffirm our commitment to the elimination of all nuclear weapons. August 6, 2018 marks the 73th anniversary of the first nuclear weapon used on a civilian population. In the blink of an eye, tens of thousands of people died, an entire civilian population destroyed.

Today, there are thousands of nuclear weapons on this planet, many that are hundreds of times more powerful than that first devastating bomb. Each of these bombs is capable of killing possibly millions of people, so the combined force is clearly enough to kill the earth's entire population. The possibility of wiping out not just the human population, but every living thing on this planet, exists right here today.

The Dallas Peace & justice Center knows that violence only begets more violence, that weapons beget more weapons, that the proliferation of nuclear weapons does not bring peace to the world, only propagates the myth that conflict is solved by use of force. The simple truth is that the more nuclear weapons there are, the more likely they will be used. The only way to prevent their use is to totally eliminate them. We, the people, have the right to ask that these weapons be eliminated, never to be used by anyone.

We support and envision a world without nuclear weapons, where people resolve differences through nonviolent means, where our collective wealth is spent on education and creating a culture of peace, rather than an arsenal of destruction. We see the first step in achieving this vision is for our government, and the governments of the world, to live up to their commitments to the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty, and begin today to dismantle and eliminate ALL nuclear weapons.

Will you join us in this endeavor? Would you be willing to write to the representatives of the people and to the leaders of our governments? Would you be willing to get involved with a petition signing; to join and support an organization that endorses peace? And first and foremost, remember "Peace Begins With Me." BE an active instrument of peace.

Len Ellis
As a member of, and representing, the Board of Directors,
Dallas Peace and Justice Center