Empowering Local Partners to Prevent Violent Extremism in the United States

submitted by Joyce Fedeczko

http://web.docuticker.com/go/docubase/64803

August 5, 2011 17:54
Source: White House
Excerpts:
Our research and consultations with local stakeholders, communities, and foreign partners have underscored that the Federal Government’s most effective role in strengthening community partnerships and preventing violent extremism is as a facilitator, convener, and source of information. The Federal Government will often be ill-suited to intervene in the niches of society where radicalization to violence takes place, but it can foster partnerships to support communities through its connections to local government, law enforcement, Mayor’s offices, the private sector, local service providers, academia, and many others who can help prevent violent extremism.

...Strong religious beliefs should never be confused with violent extremism. Freedom of religion is a fundamental American right and one of our most strongly held values. Since our founding, people of diverse and strongly held religious faiths have thrived in America.

...Though we will not tolerate illegal activities, opposition to government policy is neither illegal nor unpatriotic and does not make someone a violent extremist. It is a basic tenet of our democracy that citizens of good conscience can respectfully disagree with one another and resolve their differences through peaceful means. Our Nation is built upon the principles of debate, dialogue, and cooperation.

+Direct link to document (PDF; 2.79 MB) - http://www.whitehouse.gov/sites/default/files/empowering_local_partners.pdf