SATURDAY, JUNE 29, 2024

Weekend Reading

Dear Friend,

All people, no matter where they were born, should be able to live in safety and thrive. But today, there are tens of millions of people who have been displaced by war, natural disasters, and other forms of violence. With the help of supporters like you, AFSC is working to change that. We provide humanitarian relief to refugees, advocate for humane migration policies, and address the factors that force people to leave their homes. In this issue of Weekend Reading, you’ll read about some of our efforts.

We also want to thank everyone who has joined this month’s matching gift challenge with a donation to the Refugee Response Fund. If you haven’t yet given, your gift can still be matched, but only through tomorrow, June 30! [link removed]

Here are this week's picks to inform and support your activism:

Aid workers try to treat trauma under worst possible conditions: [link removed] AFSC’s team in Gaza has provided life-saving aid to hundreds of thousands of people. Like many humanitarian workers in Gaza, they have carried out this work despite losing loved ones as well as their homes. They have also been displaced multiple times. Today, they are urging people around the world to keep up the call for a cease-fire and humanitarian access for Gaza. (Electronic Intifada)

What you need to know about President Biden’s latest executive order on immigration: [link removed] The Biden administration has announced new legal protections for some undocumented spouses of U.S. citizens and a small number of young people. The move is a step toward a more welcoming, dignified, and just immigration system. Unfortunately, it will benefit only a fraction of the 12 million immigrants living in the U.S. without any legal path forward.

Tell Congress: Act now to stop the war in Sudan: [link removed] The war in Sudan has displaced more than 9 million people and famine is spreading. U.N. experts have warned that more than 220,000 children could die of starvation in the coming months without intervention. The United States must act now to ensure vital humanitarian aid for Sudan—and push for long-term, sustainable peace. Send a message to Congress today!

Messages from divided families from North Korea: [link removed] It’s been over 70 years since an armistice suspended active fighting on the Korean Peninsula. But today, many Korean Americans remain separated from family members in North Korea because of enduring conflicts. With support from AFSC, a video project is documenting the stories of these Korean Americans. Watch this interview with Hyo Sun Yang, whose father was captured by the North Korean army at the height of the war.

How to have hard conversations about immigration (July 9, 7 p.m. ET/4 p.m. ET): [link removed] Do you find it hard to talk to family and friends about immigration issues? Do you want to learn how to connect with people through shared values? Join this interactive webinar with AFSC staff from Colorado and New Hampshire. We’ll share messaging tips and best practices to build support for immigrant rights.

What it means to travel as a Gazan: [link removed] In this essay, AFSC’s Yousef Aljamal reflects on the freedom and power he has found in travel. He contrasts those experiences with his upbringing in Gaza. There, Israel’s ongoing blockade has severely restricted movement for Gaza's more than 2 million residents. “Moving across borders has always served as a reminder of a life under siege, death, missed opportunities, and the guilt of leaving family and friends behind,” Yousef writes. (Condé Nast Traveler)

Special thanks to our monthly donors, our Partners for Peace, for their ongoing support to make all our work possible.

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American Friends Service Committee
1501 Cherry Street
Philadelphia, PA 19102
United States

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