Commitment to Non-Violence

Our Mission and Values

Coastal Georgia for Democracy is a group of local community members deeply concerned about the erosion of constitutional principles, particularly the separation of powers that serves as a cornerstone of our democratic system. We believe that peaceable civic engagement and protest are essential tools for holding government accountable and protecting constitutional rights for all people.

Our Commitment to Non-Violence

For the purposes of this statement, we define violence as any physical force used against persons including, but not limited to, physical assault, intimidation through threatening behavior, or any actions that could reasonably be expected to cause harm or endanger safety. While acknowledging that violence against people is far more serious than damage to property, we reject vandalism, arson, and all forms of property destruction.

We hereby commit to the following principles in all our organized activities:

Absolute Non-Violence: We reject any form of aggressive physical violence or intimidation tactics; if any participant engages in such behavior, we will ask them to leave immediately.
No Weapons Policy: Weapons are not welcome at Indivisible events.
Social Media Standards: We maintain a zero-tolerance policy regarding discussion of firearms, violence, or any form of incitement on our channels and platforms.
Peaceable Assembly: We will comply with all applicable local guidelines for peaceable assembly.
Respectful Conduct: We will maintain respectful behavior toward all of our community, including its public and private spaces, its members’ property, and its means of livelihood for residents.
De-escalation: We will actively work to de-escalate any tensions that may arise through proven techniques, and we will request participants not engage with counter-protesters in confrontational ways.

Proactive Steps to Ensure Non-Violence

We will take concrete, proactive measures to ensure all participants adhere to our non-violence principles, including but not necessarily limited to the following:

Pre-Event Statement: All registered participants will receive written notices on our non-violence policies and acceptable conduct via event RSVP notifications and reminders.
Trained Marshals: We will designate trained volunteer marshals to monitor crowd behavior, identify potential issues, and intervene if anyone begins acting contrary to our principles.
Clear Identification: Our organizers and marshals will be clearly identified so participants know who to approach with concerns or questions.
Immediate Response Protocol: Anyone who violates our non-violence policies will be immediately asked to leave to ensure public safety.

We have protested peacefully in the past and pledge to continue doing so. Our goal is to raise awareness about constitutional concerns through peaceful means that respect our rights and the legitimate public safety interests of our community.