This week, we were thrilled to have more than 300 people join us in Washington, D.C. and virtually to lobby for peace at a pivotal moment.
Our first-ever Friends Changemaker Weekend brought advocates together from across the country and across generations, uniting in one voice to tell our members of Congress: Not another penny for war on Iran!
Before heading to Capitol Hill, we came together for three days of learning. We built community in every way, from hearing from policy experts to making art and music together. Thank you to everyone who helped make Friends Changemaker Weekend such a rewarding and powerful experience!
Our lobbying this week came at a crucial time, with some big developments in Congress and in the Middle East.
Over the past week, we saw U.S. officials leave talks with Iran without an agreement. President Trump later announced a U.S. blockade of the Strait of Hormuz, raising fears the fragile U.S.-Iran ceasefire could collapse. A 10-day ceasefire has now begun in Lebanon, leading Iran to announce a temporary opening of the Strait of Hormuz. But major questions remain over what happens next.
Thankfully, lawmakers are pushing back against the war, and we’re building momentum.
While an Iran war powers resolution fell short in the House by just one vote on Thursday, we’ve seen the introduction of seven more Iran War Powers Resolutions this week, along with early signs that Senate leadership may hold back further funding for war with Iran.
Also this week, a record 40 senators supported a resolution to block an arms sale to Israel. As FCNL’s Hassan El-Tayyab explained, this historic vote was not only about upholding U.S. laws and values, but also a vote against more escalation of the regional war against Iran.
This momentum represents a significant and hopeful shift. It reflects growing pressure to end this war and underscores the impact of our sustained grassroots advocacy.
Let’s keep the pressure up!
Elsewhere
Lawmakers honored during Friends Changemaker Weekend
Rep. Pramila Jayapal (WA-7) and Sen. Chris Van Hollen (MD) were honored by FCNL during our first Friends Changemaker Weekend. Rep. Jayapal received the Edward F. Snyder Award for Peace and Sen. Van Hollen was granted the Justice Award.
Both lawmakers shared powerful and hopeful messages to our FCNL network as they accepted these awards! Watch Rep. Jayapal’s remarks here and Sen. Van Hollen’s remarks at the beginning of the lobby day here!
U.S. Military Killing People in the Caribbean and Eastern Pacific
We continue to be appalled by the Trump administration’s strikes on civilian boats in the Caribbean and Eastern Pacific. Three new strikes were reported this week, totaling at least seven attacks since the war on Iran started. These are still illegal and they don’t work to stop drug trafficking.
As FCNL’s Heather Brandon-Smith put it, “The fact remains that we are not at war with the people on these boats.” That means our government is killing people without any legal basis. That’s murder.
All this comes as the U.S. military continues to make plans to attack Cuba, raising fears of more illegitimate and immoral violence in the Caribbean.
Three years of violence and perseverance in Sudan
This past Wednesday, April 15, marked three years of war in Sudan. This war has been fueled by outside guns and money, and has been marked by incredible violence and displacement. A quarter of all Sudanese are displaced, there is mass gender-based violence, and a genocide occurring.
In the midst of all of this, organizations like Invisible Children are empowering local Sudanese people to protect one another and keep themselves safe, as FCNL’s Priya Moran profiled. The United States needs to take leadership and act to end this war.
House passes protections for Haitian migrants
On April 16, the House passed bipartisan legislation which would extend Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for Haiti, which would protect Haitian immigrants from deportation. The legislation now goes to the Senate.
Maggie Jean, an FCNL diaspora organizer, shared about her experience advocating in her Haitian community for precisely this extension of TPS: “What started as a letter has now grown into true momentum.”
