Dear John,
I came of age after 9/11 and saw the horrors of wars abroad and attacks on civil rights at home. I’ve dedicated my life to building up this movement, and I’m so proud of what our NIAC chapters achieved through a focused summer of lobbying and action:
This summer has been a powerful reminder of what we can accomplish when our community of Iranian Americans and allies organize together. In the wake of Israel’s attacks on Iran and the continuing genocide in Gaza, NIAC Action members mobilized nationwide [[link removed]] to demand our Members of Congress take action.
Flexing Our Grassroots Lobby Power
From the Bay Area, Los Angeles, and Seattle to Boston, Maryland and New York, our chapters held 39 in-district meetings with U.S. Senators and House Representatives—sharing personal stories of how the 12-day war directly impacted loved ones in Iran. Constituents urged lawmakers to oppose the Iran war through the Kaine Iran War Powers Resolution. As a result, almost all Democratic U.S. Senators (47) voted in favor of [[link removed]] the Kaine War Powers Resolution, even though the measure failed to pass the Senate.
Our advocacy in New York, where members’ met with Senator Schumer’s office and led a vigil [[link removed]] outside his office, directly helped shift [[link removed]] the Senate Democratic leader towards opposing unauthorized strikes on Iran and supporting [[link removed]] Senator Kaine’s Iran War Powers Resolution. This is grassroots advocacy at its best—community voices shaping national policy and directly engaging with key policymakers. You can read more of my reflections here [[link removed]] about mobilizing against war with Iran and what opportunities lie ahead to make sure that Iranian Americans have a seat at the table. [link removed] [[link removed]] Join your local NIAC chapter [[link removed]] to sign up for our upcoming lobby visits.
Holding Senators Accountable
When some of our most influential Senators—including Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer and Senators Gillibrand, Padilla, and Schiff—failed to support Senator Sanders’ Joint Resolution of Disapproval (JRDs) to block weapons to Israel, our community did not stay silent. NIAC partnered with Peace Action and MPower Change Fund to organize statewide coalitions of 108 organizations in New York [[link removed]] and 123 in California [[link removed]] demanding these Senators reconsider their positions.
The response was overwhelming: more than 230 organizations—from local / community organizations and religious groups to national organizations—signed on. This broad alliance sent a clear message: the demand for peace and accountability extends far beyond Iranian Americans; it is shared by communities across the country who refuse to see another endless war.
Our letters have already heightened accountability and opened the door to follow-up meetings with Senate offices to press the case for de-escalation, diplomacy, and conditioning weapons to Israel. Through grassroots organizing, we’re making it clear that continued inaction will come at a political cost. And we are not stopping there—live organizational sign-on letters are now circulating in Washington State [[link removed]] , Colorado [[link removed]] , and New Jersey [[link removed]] , ensuring that no Senator can take their constituents’ support for granted when it comes to war and peace.
By building statewide coalitions and showing strength in numbers against war with Iran and Israel’s genocide on Gaza, we are shifting the political calculus in the Senate.
How You Can Help
NIAC chapters would not have been able to quickly organize at this critical time without the preceding years of investment into its grassroots organizing infrastructure. We’re also growing – this summer, new chapters launched in critical states such as Wisconsin and the Southeast (Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina, and Georgia). Through focused coalition work, we’re also building up our strength with AAPI groups, veterans, Jewish and Palestinian organizations against war and for peace.
In this fragile moment of ceasefire where the risk of war breaking out again remains high, we need your support:
* Sign up to join a local NIAC chapter [[link removed]] .
* Sign and share our No War with Iran Action Alert [[link removed]] with your networks to urge your U.S. House Representatives to co-sponsor the Khanna-Massie Iran War Powers Resolution.
* Support our grassroots organizing by donating [[link removed]] to NIAC today.
Support this movement [[link removed]]
Together, we are proving that Iranian Americans will not be sidelined in debates that impact our lives, our families, and our future.
With gratitude,
Myriam Sabbaghi
National Organizing Director, NIAC
P.S. Want to follow the latest updates? Find us on social media:
* Follow NIAC's Persian Language Telegram [[link removed]]
* Follow NIAC on Instagram [[link removed]]
* Follow NIAC on Twitter [[link removed]]
* Follow NIAC on Facebook [[link removed]]
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