SATURDAY, MARCH 8, 2025

Weekend Reading

Hi John,

As a Quaker organization that opposes all forms of violence, we are led to speak out when our tax dollars are used to harm others. Over the past year and a half, U.S. funding has fueled the genocide in Gaza. Now, Israel is again blocking all humanitarian aid from entering Gaza—worsening the crisis. Still, the U.S. continues to send billions of dollars in weapons and military funding to Israel.

Members of Congress have introduced resolutions to stop weapons sales to Israel. We need your help to build support for these measures. Please join us in contacting Congress today! [link removed]

IN THE MEDIA

Good news! Vermont towns pledge to become apartheid-free [link removed]

Last week, five Vermont towns and cities voted to endorse a pledge opposing Israeli apartheid—the first U.S. municipalities to do so. The pledge was drafted by AFSC and allied groups as part of the Apartheid-Free Communities initiative, which we launched with partners in 2023. Our initiative calls on congregations, cities, campuses, organizations, businesses, and other groups to cut ties with Israeli apartheid. Read more in Mondoweiss. [link removed]

Trump walks back call to cut military spending—not surprising, but a huge mistake [link removed]
By Mike Merryman-Lotze

Last month, President Donald Trump said the U.S. could reduce runaway military spending by as much as 50%. Unfortunately, the administration later said that any “savings” from Pentagon budget cuts would be redirected to missile defense systems, border militarization, and other destructive military projects. This is an enormous missed opportunity. We don’t need a rearranging of the deck chairs on the Pentagon’s titanic budget. We need fundamental change. Read more in Common Dreams. [link removed]

TAKE ACTION

Restore U.S. foreign aid! [link removed]

The Trump administration has frozen nearly all foreign assistance. It is also working to permanently shutter the U.S. Agency for International Development. While these efforts are being challenged in the courts, people around the world are bearing the devastating consequences. Many could die of malnutrition, infectious diseases, and other preventable causes as a result. Foreign aid not only saves lives—it helps prevent conflict. Join us in urging Congress to restore U.S. foreign aid!

IMMIGRANT RIGHTS

AFSC speaks out against for-profit immigration jail in New Jersey [link removed]

Last week, Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) signed a contract with for-profit prison company GEO Group to open a 1,000-bed immigration jail in New Jersey. The contract will reopen a jail that has been vacant since 2023. “New Jersey made a commitment to end immigration detention,” says AFSC’s Araceli Argueta. “The reopening of these facilities undermines the voices of New Jersey residents. We must protect our communities and ensure that no one is incarcerated just so corporations can profit.”

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

DONATE [link removed]

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

Facebook [link removed]
X (Twitter) [link removed]
Instagram [link removed]
News [link removed]

View this email as a webpage. [link removed]

If you believe you received this message in error or wish to no longer receive email from us, please unsubscribe: [link removed] .
Update your AFSC email preferences [link removed]