Nine days into the new year, we’ve been saddened and alarmed by the Trump administration’s escalating violence at home and abroad – from the attack on Venezuela to the horrifying ICE killing of Renee Good in Minneapolis (more on that below).
But we were also heartened that people across the country, and our lawmakers in Congress, are pushing back.
On Thursday, the Senate advanced a War Powers Resolution to block President Trump from launching further military attacks against Venezuela. Five Republican senators joined all Democrats in supporting the resolution.
This is an important step toward reining in President Trump’s abuse of military force. It would not have been possible without the advocacy of people across the country who made clear that we do not want more war.
This resolution still needs to formally pass in the Senate and be approved by the House, so we must keep up the pressure.
The Trump administration’s Jan. 3 attack on Venezuela and kidnapping of President Nicolás Maduro was “extraordinarily illegal,” as FCNL’s Heather-Brandon Smith told the Intercept.
Waging war without Congressional authorization is an authoritarian attack on the separation of powers and democracy.
“The power to declare war belongs to Congress and the American people,” not the president, as Leah Greenberg of Indivisible reminds us. “Trump … is attempting to drag the country into war by decree.”
The attack is also a grave violation of international law and a threat to global peace and stability.
As U.N. officials warned, by invading Venezuela and threatening force against a long list of our neighbors, the Trump administration is violating the U.N. charter and “making every country less safe.”
Beyond its illegality, the attack on Venezuela is also a moral stain on our country.
The operation killed at least 80 people, including civilians. While there is much to criticize about Maduro’s authoritarian rule, this attack on Venezuela’s sovereignty – and the administration’s unabashed aims to control its oil resources– are unjustifiable.
Elsewhere
State Killing in Minneapolis
This week, we saw a tragic escalation in the Trump administration’s militarized affronts against our communities when U.S. immigration enforcement shot and killed Renee Nicole Good in Minneapolis as she was turning to drive away. We are mourning with her family and community and holding them in the light. We join the calls for accountability and justice.
ICE and CBP have been treating Minneapolis and other cities across the country as if they were an occupying army, with violence and disregard of residents’ rights and wishes. They treat those they have detained with disrespect for human dignity. The Trump administration showed no remorse over Good’s killing, and immediately lied about what happened.
In the face of violence and lies, we must commit to the truth and act for peace and justice.
Trump administration withdraws from international organizations
This week, President Trump withdrew the United States from 66 international organizations, targeting U.N. entities related to health, education, environment, gender, and economic development. This is giving up international leadership on a host of issues, from peacebuilding efforts to climate cooperation.
The Trump administration continues to try to steer the U.S. towards militarized foreign policy. Trump called for a $1.5 trillion military budget in the next year. We should invest in building peace, not waging war – every dollar spent on peacebuilding saves between $26-$103 in responding to future conflict.
Speaking with Friends about Indian Boarding Schools
FCNL’s legislative representative for Native American advocacy, Rachel Overstreet, wrote in Friends Journal about lobbying Congress and talking with Quakers about Indian boarding schools. Rooted in her identity as a Native person and a lobbyist, Rachel offers queries for Friends to consider as we move together toward “a world where Friends step boldly into the truth.”
New from FCNL
- FCNL’s Allen Hester broke down the latest NDAA, the major annual military policy bill – pointing out one big win, and some big problems.
- FCNL’s Alex Mork wrote about what is next for Congress, following the federal government shutdown, as they have yet another deadline of January 30 to continue to fund the government.
