John,

It was hard to sit in Congress yesterday while my colleagues shamefully applauded a war criminal. Genocidal maniac Netanyahu is responsible for starving and murdering more than 15,000 Palestinian children in Gaza and he was allowed to address Congress.

While an actively genocidal war criminal got standing ovations inside Congress, thousands of Americans exercising their right to protest Netanyahu’s speech were pepper sprayed and brutalized by police outside.

Instead of celebrating Netanyahu, my colleagues in Congress and the Biden administration must listen to the American people, a majority of whom want a permanent ceasefire and an end to U.S. weapons deliveries to Israel.

As the top funder and weapons supplier for Israel’s military, our government has the needed leverage to stop the slaughter now. Today, President Biden and the likely presidential nominee Vice President Kamala Harris are set to meet privately with Netanyahu. The American people are paying attention to how these meetings go.

Jewish American Lily Greenberg Call, who quit the Biden administration over its support for genocide, explained: “President Biden’s unconditional support for Israel’s assault on Gaza has been widely unpopular with Americans… so Vice President Harris now has an opportunity to chart a new path, not just because it’s the right thing to do, but because it’s actually both the popular and politically savvy thing for her to do.”

Add your name to tell Vice President Kamala Harris: Please listen to the Democratic base and people across the country who want our government to value our shared humanity over bombs and genocide. Now’s the time to come out strong on issues important to voters including Palestine, immigration, poverty, and healthcare.

The day before Netanyahu’s speech, hundreds of Jewish Americans were arrested during a sit-in demanding the U.S. stop arming Israel and end the genocide.

Relatives of Israeli hostages also asked Congresspeople to protest the speech.

Many of these family members were arrested while walking out of the speech or standing up to reveal shirts demanding Netanyahu accept a ceasefire deal with a mutual hostage exchange—a deal that he continues to block.

They wrote, “We flew across the world to protest him… We are here to tell America and the world: we want a hostage deal and a ceasefire. And Netanyahu wants neither. Stand with us.”

Although many of my colleagues cheered on Netanyahu as he spread reprehensible and racist lies in Congress yesterday, he’s deeply unpopular in Israel and the United States.

Holding signs during Netanyahu’s speech, I reminded him that he’s a war criminal who’s guilty of genocide. The International Criminal Court is in proceedings for his arrest warrant due to blatant war crimes, and he is also violating binding orders from the world’s top court to stop the violence in Gaza and end apartheid in the West Bank.

I will keep speaking up for human rights for all people and I will keep reminding lawmakers that Palestinians aren’t going anywhere. They will not erase us, not on my watch. We are not disposable and we deserve to live.

Instead of funding mass death, our government should be ending poverty and funding Americans’ needs like housing and healthcare.

Sign the petition asking likely Democratic presidential nominee Kamala Harris to listen to her base and the American people, who are demanding an end to U.S. military support for Israel—and instead calling for investments in American families who are struggling to get by.

Thank you for being on the side of life. We will keep demanding a society where everyone can thrive.

In solidarity,

Rashida

---------- Forwarded message ---------
From: Rashida Tlaib
Date: Tue, Jul 23, 2024
Subject: Presidential candidates must reconnect with our Democratic base in order to defeat Donald Trump
To: [email protected]

John,

Over the weekend, President Joe Biden withdrew from the 2024 presidential race and endorsed Vice President Kamala Harris to take his place as the Democratic nominee.

We are in unprecedented times. But the demands of our constituents and people across the country remain the same: They want a President and government that is focused on saving lives, giving people the ability to thrive, and valuing the humanity of one another over bombs and genocide.

Kamala Harris and other potential presidential candidates must reconnect with our Democratic base in order to defeat Donald Trump and the dangerous implications of Project 2025.

The people who make up our Democratic base have been clear: They want to see a permanent ceasefire, an end to the funding of genocide in Gaza, and an arms embargo to stop the Israeli government’s war crimes. They want to see fair and humane immigration policies, not ones that vilify immigrants. They want to see a clear path to ending fossil fuel subsidies that continue to poison our air and water. They want to see an end to our inhumane healthcare system and an end to the attempts to dismantle our public education system. They want us to fight against corporate greed, strengthen unions, and lift families out of the cycle of poverty.

Sign the petition today to Vice President Kamala Harris: Please listen to the Democratic base and come out strong on issues including Palestine, immigration, fossil fuels, healthcare, poverty, and more.

As Jewish Voice for Peace Action wrote this week:

“The Democratic nominee must immediately change course by calling for an arms embargo on the Israeli government and establishing a foreign policy centered in human rights… The only way to reach the lasting ceasefire that the overwhelming majority of Americans are demanding is for the U.S. to finally exert pressure on Netanyahu’s regime by ending the flow of weapons to the Israeli government. It has never been more clear that the Democratic party must start listening to its own base.”

Thank you for taking action and continuing to demand a government of, by, and for the people.

In solidarity,

Rashida