Dear John,

Our community has been inundated with fear and anxiety over the last week as the U.S. and Iran have gone to the precipice of a catastrophic war. At NIAC, our staff has channeled this pain into working nonstop to halt the march to war—helping pass No War legislation, mobilizing thousands in anti-war rallies with our allies, and appearing in major media outlets to correct the dangerous narratives and give voice to our community’s concerns.

Clearly, the pro-war crowd views NIAC as a threat to their ambitions. In the midst of military tensions, crackdowns on Iranian Americans at the border, and scary images coming out of Iran, a group of the Senate’s biggest war hawks—Sens. Tom Cotton, Ted Cruz, and Mike Braun—are trying to silence NIAC. They have sent a letter urging the Department of Justice to investigate us based on smears and lies about our role in American civic society. Their aim is simple: to silence Iranian Americans and dismantle all voices that oppose the Trump White House's disastrous Iran policy.

The usual suspects are already rallying behind the letter: the cultish MEK, fringe diaspora groups eager to impose their will on the Iranian people, hardline "pro-Israel" pundits, and the loudest warhawks in Washington. We do not expect this letter or request to go anywhere—war hawks have tried and failed to do this to us in the past.

These shameless efforts will not stop our momentum. We will advocate more staunchly than ever for policies that end the risk of war, as well as continuing our work to end the Muslim Ban and protect our community’s rights. But we can't do it without your help. Please consider making a donation today so we can continue helping lead the charge against a disastrous war and ensure pro-peace Iranian Americans have a seat at the table.

Best,

Jamal Abdi
President, NIAC

P.S. Read our full statement on these baseless allegations here.