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Lansing, MI, City Council Resolution |
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On October 1, 2007,in Michigan’s capital city of Lansing, city officials unanimously adopted a resolution calling for creation of a U.S. Department of Peace and Nonviolence. In doing so, Lansing joins Detroit, Hamtramck, and the Little Traverse Bay Bands of Odawa Indians Tribal Council in Michigan in supporting HR 808, a bill currently in the U.S. House to establish this cabinet-level department within the federal government. The resolution also calls on Michigan Congressman Mike Rogers [R-8 th Congressional District] to co-sponsor the bill and urges Senators Debbie Stabenow [D-MI] and Carl Levin [D-MI] to offer a companion bill in the U.S. Senate.
Linda Henderson, State Coordinator for the Michigan Department of Peace Campaign, is credited with organizing the support for the federal legislation among city officials. "To quote Tip O’Neill, 'all politics are local,'" said Henderson. "(Lansing Council Vice President) Brian Jeffries was right to point out the biggest local issue facing us today is crime and violence, and that this legislation will provide local officials and law enforcement with tools and programs to prevent much of that violence," she said.
"Reacting to violence after it occurs is inadequate and insufficient," said Henderson. "Let’s get serious about violence and create a US Department of Peace so we can focus more of our attention on preventing these tragedies from occurring in the first place."
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