Dear John,

We all agree: United States weapons companies shouldn’t be able to profit off of sales to countries that commit human rights abuses. Now, we can do something about it! Ask your representative to add their name to Ilhan Omar’s Stop Arming Human Rights Abusers Act (SAHRAA).

In April, the Biden administration informed Congress of its intention to go ahead with a sale of more than $23 billion in weapons sales to the United Arab Emirates, including F-35 fighter jets and armed drones.

In May, while the Israeli military was literally committing war crimes in Gaza — according to a new report by Human Rights Watch — the Biden administration approved a $735 million sale of munitions to Israel. To top that off, last week, the Biden administration approved $3.4 billion in helicopters and other weapons made by Lockheed Martin and General Dynamics weapons. 

Since 2002, the US has sold almost $900 million in weapons — plus $21 million in annual military aid — to the Philippines. This continues today, while President Duterte shamelessly brags about his repression and extrajudicial executions. 

What happened to the Biden administration’s claim that it would put human rights at the forefront of U.S. foreign policy? 

But this week Representative Ilhan Omar reintroduced the Stop Arming Human Rights Abusers Act (SAHRAA). John, please take a moment to contact your Representative and urge them to add their name to this important bill

SAHRAA would create an independent bipartisan commission that would determine if a country that wants to receive U.S. weapons is committing gross human rights abuses. If so, a prohibition is triggered blocking security aid of any kind, all arms sales, and exchanges with U.S. law enforcement. The State Department would be required to actively work with the country in question to enact transitional justice mechanisms for the victims. 

Human Rights Watch, along with 22 Egyptian and international organizations, recently sent an open letter outlining how Egyptian authorities have been targeting critics and their families, carrying out arbitrary arrests, home raids, disappearances, and prolonged detentions without trial or charges. Despite all this, in February the Biden administration approved $197 million worth of weapons to the country. 

Right now, Congress has to come up with a veto-proof majority to stop just a single weapons sale. This might make private weapons companies happy, but not people like us who value human rights. We need a change of rules and for that, we need your help. Email your Representatives and Senators and tell them to support the Stop Arming Human Rights Abusers Act.

The bombs and bullets sold in our name have had devastating consequences: they’re used by oppressive governments to kill their own people, maintain illegal occupations, and keep the war in Yemen going.

Help us end U.S. complicity in gross human rights abuses and war crimes.

Toward peace,
Ariel, Carley, Ally, Ann, Ciara, Cody, Danaka, Emily, Farida, Jodie, Kelly, Leila, Leonardo, Madison, Mary, Marcy, Medea, Michelle, Moses, Nancy, Paki, RJ, Sana, and Teri

P.S. Pick up a CODEPINK Palestine shirt in our CODEPINK store!