Prominent anti-war organizations
and individuals have just released an important sign-on letter to
reject the new McCarthyism being used to reinforce the U.S.
government’s Cold War agenda against China.
We stand together against the rise of a new McCarthyism that is
targeting peace activists, critics of US foreign policy, and Chinese
Americans. Despite increased intimidation, we
remain steadfast in our mission to foster peace and international
solidarity, countering the narrative of militarism, hostility, and
fear.
As the US government grapples with a major crisis of legitimacy, it
has grown fearful of young people becoming conscious and organized to
change the world. Influential media outlets like
The New York Times have joined right-wing extremists in using
intimidation tactics to silence these advocates for change, affecting
not only the left but everyone who supports free speech and democratic
rights.
The political and media establishments, both liberal and
conservative, have initiated McCarthy-like attacks against individuals
and organizations criticizing US foreign
policy, labeling peace advocates as “Chinese or
foreign agents.” This campaign uses innuendo and
witch hunts, posing a threat to free speech and the right to dissent.
We must oppose this trend.
Scientists, researchers, and service members of Chinese descent
have been falsely accused of espionage and unregistered foreign
agency, often with cases later collapsing due to insufficient
evidence. Similar to the old “Red Scare” and McCarthy periods, when
scores of organizations and leaders like W.E.B Du Bois, Eugene Debs,
Emma Goldman, Paul Robeson and Martin Luther King Jr and others were
attacked with fact-less accusations, today, prominent organizations
and individuals, including CODEPINK, The People’s
Forum, and Tricontinental Institute have been targeted, with smears
and accusations propagated by outlets like The New York
Times.
Their strategy paints a sinister image of a secret network funding
the peace movement. However, there’s nothing
illegal or fringe about opposing a New Cold War or a “major power
conflict” with China, views shared by hundreds
of millions globally. Receiving donations from US citizens who share
these views is not illicit.
Media outlets have tried to scandalize funding sources of several
organizations that are on the frontlines working with anti-racist,
feminist, anti-war, abolitionist, climate justice, and other movements
throughout the United States and globally. Meanwhile, when white
neoliberal philanthropists flood the non-profit complex with
significant funds to support their political agendas this is rarely
scrutinized or made accountable to the communities they impact.
From The New York Times to Fox News, there’s a resurgence of the
Red Scare that once shattered many lives and threatened movements for
change and social justice. This attack isn’t only on the left but
against everyone who exercises their free speech and democratic
rights. We must firmly resist this racist,
anti-communist witch hunt and remain committed to building an
international peace movement. In the face of adversity, we say NO to
xenophobic witch hunts and YES to peace.
Initial Signers
CODEPINK The People’s Forum Tricontinental Institute for
Social Research ANSWER Coalition Anticapitalism for
Artists Defend Democracy in Brazil Families for
Freedom Mulheres de Resistencia do Exterior Nodutdol NYC
Jericho Movement NYC Young Communist League Pivot to
Peace Radical Elders
Abby Martin • Andy Hsaio • Ben Becker • Ben Norton • Bhaskar
Sunkara • Brian Becker • Carl Messineo • Chris Hedges • Claudia de la
Cruz • Corinna Mullen • David Harvey • Derek R. Ford • Doug Henwood •
Eugene Puryear • Farida Alam • Fergie Chambers • Gail Walker • Geo
Maher • Gerald Horne • Gloria La Riva • Hakim Adi • Heidi Boghosian •
Immanuel Ness • James Early • Jeremy Kuzmarov • Jill Stein • Jim
Garrison • Jodi Dean • Jodie Evans • Johanna Fernandez • Karen Ranucci
• Kenneth Hammond • Koohan Paik-Mander • Lee Camp • Lisa Armstrong •
Manolo de los Santos • Manu Karuka • Mara Verheyden-Hilliard • Matt
Hoh • Matt Meyer • Matteo Capasso • Max Lesnik • Medea Benjamin •
Michael Steven Smith • Nazia H. Kazi • Radhika Desai • Rania Khalek •
Richard M Walden • Robin D.G. Kelley • Roger Waters • Roxanne Dunbar
Ortiz • Ruth Wilson Gilmore • Salvatore Engel di-Mauro • Sheila Xiao •
Stella Schnabel • Vijay Prashad • Vivian Weisman
|