Dear John,
I first started volunteering with NIAC’s Chicago chapter in 2020 when I was in college. I wanted to get involved in advocacy after I saw the disproportionate impact of COVID-19 on Iran and the significant access barriers caused by sanctions. So I joined my local NIAC chapter and participated in meetings with my members of Congress – first as just an observer, then as a key contributor, and eventually as the leader of those meetings. It felt incredibly empowering knowing that my elected representatives were hearing my voice, my story, and my perspective as a constituent in a way that could genuinely shape their understanding of U.S. policy toward Iran and its human impact.
Today, I work on NIAC’s policy team, where I regularly participate in those same congressional meetings, except I’m the policy point person now instead of the constituent. I ensure that the personal stories that local NIAC members share in these discussions – from the impact of sanctions, war, or immigration policies – are translated into concrete legislative action by their members of Congress.
We hold meetings like this year-round, but really activate our entire grassroots volunteer base during moments of crisis. As soon as Israel first struck Iran back in June, we knew that getting direct face time with congressional offices was critical. It was, and remains, absolutely essential that our members of Congress not only understand the horrific impacts of war on our friends and families, but that our wider community here vehemently opposes such an approach as a matter of policy.
In just the past few months since the war, NIAC volunteers have held dozens of meetings with their elected officials, urging lawmakers to take concrete action to stop another war and preserve space for diplomacy. They pressed Representatives and Senators to support a range of critical initiatives, including the House and Senate Iran War Powers Resolutions, the No War Against Iran Act, and Senator Sanders’ Joint Resolutions of Disapproval to block weapons to Israel in light of its attacks against Iran and genocide in Gaza.
While being able to pass such measures remains inherently difficult in this current political environment, we have moved Members of Congress one by one to explicitly stand on the right side of history with us. With each individual vote swayed, our anti-war movement grows, and the closer we get to accomplishing real change.
NIAC’s grassroots lobbying work has always been a critical piece of advancing peace and diplomacy – it was fundamental in getting me to where I am today as a member of NIAC’s staff. But with the risks of another war still looming, we need to double down. Though the ceasefire has held, it remains very fragile at the moment.
That’s why I’m asking you to support NIAC Action today. Your contribution ensures that we can keep building our grassroots power, recruiting and training our volunteers, and taking our fight directly to Congress.
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I f you can’t donate money but would like to donate your time, please sign up to become a NIAC volunteer [[link removed]] today. It was my game-changing starting point, and it can be yours too.
Thank you for your support,
Ariana Amini
Policy Associate, NIAC Action
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