National Catholic organizations urge Biden to call for ceasefire, humanitarian aid |
This week, the Quixote Center joined more than two dozen national Catholic organizations in a letter to President Biden calling for a humanitarian ceasefire and deescalation in the Israel-Palestine conflict, which you can read HERE. In a joint press release, the Quixote Center released the following statement in response:
Quixote Center mourns the deaths of thousands over the past two weeks and affirms our solidarity with Jewish and Palestinian communities. We condemn the Hamas attack on innocent civilians and we also cannot ignore the Israeli government's disregard for human life and international law, including collective punishment of Gaza's 2.4 million people, restrictions on humanitarian aid, and mass displacement of Palestinians. We are deeply disappointed in our country's unwavering support for war, including a supplemental funding request for billions in additional military aid to Israel. As an organization rooted in Catholic Social Teaching, we know that a different future is possible. We appeal to our government to demand an immediate ceasefire, ensure international protection for civilians and release of hostages, and invest in de-escalation and peace, instead of further war.
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We're joining the D.C. Catholic Coalition for a Catholic Call-in to the White House calling for an immediate ceasefire. We ask everyone to call the White House and ask for an immediate ceasefire, allow entry of humanitarian aid, and prioritize protecting civillians and releasing hostages. You can use the quote above, press release, or Catholic letter for talking points.
Call the White House Comment Line at 202-456-1111. Hours of operation are 11am to 3pm ET, Tuesday - Thursday.
Email the White House at https://www.whitehouse.gov/contact/ |
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"Everywhere is war. And the United States will send weapons. Our weapons fuel nearly every war, it seems. Our government's first response to the current crisis is not to press for de-escalation or nonviolent solutions or a ceasefire or negotiations. The first response is to support revenge and retribution with weapons. This is not the moral leadership we so desperately need right now. "Without an immediate ceasefire, this conflict has the potential to escalate into a regional war, as countries take sides and arm their preferred victor. Even if it does not, there are already thousands of people killed, thousands more injured, and much more violence coming. So much suffering." |
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Haiti Dinner & Discussion |
The Quixote Center invites you to attend an evening of Haitian food and drink at the Port-au-Prince Restaurant in Silver Spring, MD. During the evening we will present our work in Haiti and explain what makes it both unique and impactful. There will be time for questions and discussion.
We ask for a $50 donation to attend, which you can make HERE. Your donation will include a full buffet-style dinner. Bar costs are separate. Date: November 7 Time: 6 to 8:30 PM
Place: Port-au-Prince Restaurant, 7912 Georgia Avenue, Silver Spring, MD How to Get There: Parking is available in the county lot across from the 7-11 on King Street, about 1 block from the restaurant
The restaurant is a 15-minute walk from the Silver Spring Metro. |
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Join Us in Southern Mexico |
Join us on our next solidarity trip on December 3th-8th. We will visit shelters in the Mexican states of Tabasco and Chiapas, and just across Mexico's border with Guatemala. Click HERE to learn more about the trip details, and HERE to apply to travel with us.
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Say NO to New Sanctions in Nicaragua |
Senators Rubio and Kaine have introduced a new Senate bill that would impose wide-reaching sanctions on Nicaragua that could seriously damage the country's economy. Help stand in solidarity with the people of Nicaragua by telling your Senator to say NO to this bill. |
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Take Action for Peace in Haiti
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Join us in fighting to stop the gun running to Haiti by asking your Representative to co-sponsor the U.S.-Caribbean Strategic Engagement Act of 2023. Armed gangs have taken control of most of Haiti, and the violence is devastating: 600 people died in Port-au-Prince in April of 2023 alone. The gangs can expand and maintain power because they are highly armed, and the U.S. is a major source of these weapons.
Use this form to urge your Representative to support the bill!
If your member of Congress is one of the co-sponsors listed HERE, we ask that you instead send a thank-you message. |
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This week, we're highlighting something a little different: music! The song "Somos Sur," or "We are the South," is a cry for oppressed peoples across the globe. Indigenous Chilean artist Ana Tijoux and British-Palestinian rapper Shadia Mansour sing in Spanish and Arabic respectively, calling on everyone who is "silenced, neglected, invisible." Together, they call for solidarity and collaboration between across the global South: "We are Africans, Latin Americans, we are the south and we join our hands together."
Click HERE to view the full music video, and HERE to see an English translation of the lyrics. |
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