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John,
Instead of heeding the demands of the American people for a ceasefire, Congress just passed a resolution trying to silence our anti-war movement.
I voted against House Resolution 894, a dangerous Republican-led resolution that falsely claims it’s antisemitic to oppose the policies of Israel’s government. As Jewish Voice for Peace Action wrote about this resolution:
“Conflating anti-Zionism with antisemitism conflates all Jews with the Israeli state and endangers Jewish communities. Just as blaming all Jews for Israel's actions is antisemitic, so is the inverse: suggesting that Jewish people are synonymous with Israel and Zionism.”
The resolution endangers Jews, Palestinians, and people of all backgrounds who are speaking up for Palestinians’ human rights. It violates our constitutional right to free speech, and it ignores the very real threat of white supremacy that’s fueling an interconnected rise in antisemitism, Islamophobia, and anti-Arab hate.
Please add your name if you agree: Criticizing Israel’s government is not antisemitic. No government is beyond criticism, and we will continue speaking up for human rights around the world.
I grieve the lives of every innocent civilian killed and harmed in Palestine and Israel. I’m also horrified by the increase in violence against Jewish Americans, Arab Americans, and Muslim Americans.
My colleagues in Congress are fueling this violence by dehumanizing Palestinians and passing resolutions like HR 894, which falsely conflates Jews with Israel’s government and condemns Jewish peace advocates as “rioters.”
Rather than endangering our communities and attacking our First Amendment rights, members of Congress should be listening to their constituents.
A new poll again confirms that most U.S. voters support a permanent ceasefire in Gaza—and most voters think the U.S. should “only provide military aid to Israel if they meet our standards for human rights.”1
But Congress continues to ignore the American people. Right now, the Senate is getting ready to vote on sending $14 billion more U.S. taxpayer dollars to fund Israel’s military without conditions.
Meanwhile, the Republicans with a majority in the House of Representatives continue to repeat white supremacist conspiracy theories that harm all marginalized groups. We are safest when we build cross-cultural solidarity and push back against oppressive systems that harm all of us.
I will continue to push back against hate, dehumanization, and oppression. I will continue to build a world where all of us live with safety, equality, freedom, and dignity.
Add your name: Opposing the policies of Israel’s government is NOT antisemitic. Our freedom to criticize governments is a core part of the U.S. Constitution, and we will continue speaking out against oppression.
In solidarity,
Rashida
1 https://www.dataforprogress.org/blog/2023/12/5/voters-want-the-us-to-call-for-a-permanent-ceasefire-in-gaza-and-to-prioritize-diplomacy
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