Contesting Buddhist Narratives “proper” Buddhist response in a situation of contestation, violence, and vast change. For example, several public sermons by Buddhist monks calling for coexistence and decrying violence between ethnic and religious groups have circulated on social media.28 Women’s organizations have been among the most vocal critics of proposed laws restricting interreligious marriage, arguing that not only are the laws discriminatory, but they also demean women rather than protect them, as supporters claim (Zarni Mann and Michaels 2013). They have been joined in their opposition by some monks and by a range of other civil society organizations. Buddhist monks have been involved in various local initiatives, some public and some under the radar, working with other religions and within the monastic community to challenge these narratives and to advance peace. For example, a prominent monk member of the Mandalay Inter-faith Mercy Group helped launch a multiethnic and multireligious committee in Mandalay to respond to misinformation and rising tensions between Buddhist and Muslim communities and to prevent violent episodes. He has also led a series of 10-day courses at his monastery for dozens of monks sympathetic to the 969 movement to analyze the situation in the country and to present Buddhist arguments in support of peace and coexistence. According to him and his colleagues, his efforts have succeeded in fostering peaceful religious coexistence in the area and in directly preventing violence from breaking out.29 On July 4, 2014, as a response to riots and in an effort to build on earlier endeavors, a new peacekeeping committee was formed in Mandalay among religious leaders of different faiths, which announced that it was prepared to pursue legal action against those spreading rumors or fomenting further unrest (Aung Ko Oo and Myo Thant 2014, Si Thu Lwin 2013a). According to several activists, a statement made by monks in Yangon in 2012, which was made to de-escalate tensions after incidents had occurred elsewhere, may also have prevented the destruction of a city mosque that rumors indicated would be destroyed.30 Some Buddhist monks have helped organize humanitarian relief to Muslim victims of recent violence (Fawthrop 2013). In Yangon, a Muslim leader reported that he was able to call on groups of Buddhist monks who would immediately come to protect mosques or religious schools that were being threatened by angry mobs.31 31