Tuesday was a deeply shameful and frightening day for our country, with President Trump threatening to destroy the “entire civilization” of Iran.
The announcement of a tenuous two-week ceasefire that evening brought temporary relief for our worst fears, and raised hope for further de-escalation and diplomacy.
This moment must be a wake-up call for Congress. The genocidal threats made by the president demand a moral reckoning and urgent action.
In this pivotal moment, we’re urging Congress to take three key steps to rein in President Trump and ensure an enduring end to this war:
Pass War Powers Resolutions:
Lawmakers must not allow the prospects for peace to rest on the whims of President Trump. Congress must re-assert its constitutional war powers now to prevent any further unauthorized strikes on Iran.
While an effort to bring a War Powers Resolution to the House floor was blocked by Republican leadership this week, we expect the Senate to hold another war powers vote next week.
Reject more funding for war:
Even with a fragile ceasefire, Congress may still vote on a huge funding package of $80-200 billion for more war.
There is no justification for providing even one more penny for this disastrous war, particularly as so many here at home are struggling to afford necessities.
Block more weapons to Israel:
On Wednesday, Israel carried out an “unprecedented escalation” of airstrikes in Lebanon, killing hundreds and putting the ceasefire in immediate jeopardy.
Providing any more U.S. weapons to the Israeli government would send an unacceptable message of impunity for its attacks on civilians and destabilizing violence in the region.
That’s why we’re working with a broad coalition to urge the Senate to pass resolutions to block more arms sales.
As Lydia El -Sayegh, a Scoville Fellow at FCNL Education Fund, wrote this week, so much is at stake in this moment: “If Congress wants to end this unauthorized and immoral war of choice, save lives, restore the economy, protect the Constitution, and pave the way for diplomacy, it must act decisively.”
First Friends Changemaker Weekend Starts Tomorrow!
FCNL’s first Friends Changemaker Weekend will start tomorrow, and we’re so excited!
Hundreds of people across generations will come together in person and online to advocate against more funding for the war on Iran at this critical moment.
Our power is in speaking with one voice and saying: NO!
Never again is now
Mandela Gapala, a diaspora organizer with FCNL, shared some of his heart this week for the Banyamulenge in Eastern Congo, his community. The Banyamulenge face a crisis of violence and displacement, while the world turns a blind eye.
Mandela spells out concrete demands for action for the United States, the international community, and military forces operating in Eastern Congo. As he points out, “History is watching, and so are the families hiding in the hills of South Kivu, waiting to see whether the world will finally choose action over silence.”
DACA recipients facing deportation and detention
Immigration enforcement has detained at least 261 DACA recipients and deported 86 of them in the last year. These are our neighbors and friends – people who were brought to the U.S. as kids and have tried to follow the rules, contributing to our communities in countless ways.
Read some of their stories here. We hold those disappeared in the light and won’t give up until all members of our community are safe.
Travelling to the Moon for some Earthly perspective
As the Artemis II returns from its trip to the moon today, we are reflecting on some thoughts from the pilot of the mission, Victor Glover, on his perspective on the Earth: “In all of this emptiness — this is a whole bunch of nothing, this thing we call the universe — you have this oasis, this beautiful place that we get to exist (in) together.”
We are happy to share this oasis with you, and to keep up the struggle for the world we seek.
