Our hearts continue to break as we continue to monitor the situation in Israel and Gaza with deep concern and empathy for all those affected by this recent escalation in violence. As has long been the case, civilians are bearing the brunt of the suffering in this decades-long conflict.
Peace and justice cannot be achieved through shooting civilians, taking hostages, conducting airstrikes, and depriving millions of people of food, water, electricity and medicine. It is crucial that our members of Congress hear from us immediately and make clear that more violence is not the answer!
Just last week, Representatives Bush, Tlaib, Carson, Lee, and Ramirez introduced the Ceasefire Now Resolution calling for de-escalation and an immediate ceasefire in Israel and Occupied Palestine, and for humanitarian assistance to urgently be delivered to the 2.2 million people under siege and trapped in Gaza. We are so thankful to NY Representatives Bowman, Ocasio-Cortez, and Velázquez for being original cosponsors of this resolution. If you are a constituent of any of the co-sponsors, please be sure to thank them.
If your Representative has not yet cosponsored, please call them at 202-224-3121 and urge them to support H.Res.786, the Ceasefire Now Resolution calling for de-escalation and an immediate ceasefire in Israel and Occupied Palestine, and for humanitarian assistance to urgently be delivered to the 2.2 million people under siege and trapped in Gaza. We also urge you to contact Senators Schumer and Gillibrand with the same message to call for de-escalation and an immediate ceasefire. (There is no specific Senate legislation to ask them to co-sponsor yet, but they can still publicly call for de-escalation and a ceasefire!)
Events and protests are being planned rapidly across the country. You can look for local protests in your area using this resource from IfNotNow, this one from the US Campaign for Palestinian Rights, and this one from MPower Change and Adalah Justice Project.
If you would like to donate to emergency aid in Gaza, we suggest you check out the following organizations (not an exhaustive list):
Palestine Medical Relief Society
Palestine Children’s Relief Fund
United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees
William Sloane Coffin said, “The world is too dangerous for anything but truth, and too small for anything but love”.
The truth is thousands of innocents are suffering and dying, while the US is helping to provide the weapons to make it so. Please, let us see what love can do. Call your representatives.