I Believe…

—Youth should be the highest priority of the nation and the allocation of resources should reflect this.
—The dignity, goodness and leadership of young people should be honored and nurtured.
—No one should have to be willing to kill in order to advance themselves.
—It is unfair that recruiters target the poor and communities of color.
—Military recruiters should not be given access to students’ personal information without the students’ and parents’ permission.
—Youth should have the power to make decisions that will affect their lives.

I Want…

—To help create the world I have always dreamed of.
—Education to receive more federal funds than war.
—More leadership and alternatives to violence programs in my school.
—Health care and services that broaden the options of everyone in my community.
—The right to be myself and do what I want, unlimited by discriminatory policies.
—Military recruiters out of my school and community.

Therefore I Demand…

—That every high school student emergency card include an option for families to “opt out” of being contacted by military recruiters.
—That a JAMRS* Opt Out form be included in every high school student’s registration packet to prevent private companies from collecting student information for the purpose of military recruitment.
—That military recruiters have no greater access to high school students than any other potential employer, and that students have equal access to alternative perspectives.
—That the ASVAB* test not be given during school hours unless another non-military vocational test is offered at the same time and parents permission is given.
—That the School District open bidding to non-military programs to provide leadership and physical education training at the same cost as the current JROTC* program.
—That the School District work with the city to make more non-military extra curricular and job training resources available for youth, and that youth be given a meaningful voice in the allocation of such resources.

* JAMRS = Joint Advertising Market Research and Studies
* ASVAB = Armed Services Vocational Aptitude Battery,
* JROTC = Junior Reserve Officers’ Training Corps

This Manifesto was created with the input of dozens of youth through a series of workshops at various youth conferences through the Spring of 2008.
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If you have questions or comments, send them to youthaction@baypeace.org