Dear John,

Just minutes after Senators Ted Cruz, Tom Cotton and Mike Braun released a baseless attack on NIAC questioning our allegiances as Americans, we received an outpouring of support. Friends and colleagues from across the policy and advocacy community in Washington wanted to know what they could do to fight back against this outrageous political attack on NIAC, the Iranian-American community, and American civil society itself. 

In just 48 hours, over 100 peace and civil rights organizations, former U.S. officials, community leaders signed onto a statement in solidarity with NIAC. Our community has been through a lot in these early weeks of 2020, but I hope you know we are not alone--we have allies and partners across the political spectrum who have our backs. Take a look at the letter below and we invite you to add your own name and share this message proudly.

Jamal Abdi
President, NIAC

P.S. Make sure to share our Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook posts

Letter of Solidarity Standing with NIAC

January 17, 2020

The National Iranian American Council (NIAC), and its sister organization NIAC Action, are American civil-society organizations working on behalf of members of the Iranian-American community and the broader American public. At a time when our nation is bitterly divided, NIAC is an important voice in our public debate on issues of enormous consequence for all Americans -- and particularly for Americans of Iranian heritage -- including heightened tensions in the Middle East and the risk of war, policies like the Muslim travel ban and extreme vetting, the rise in domestic hate crimes, and the protection of civil liberties. 

We are deeply disturbed by the letter from Senators Tom Cotton, Ted Cruz and Mike Braun insinuating that this Iranian-American organization has dual loyalties, is somehow less American than other organizations in this space, and should be subject to a Justice Department investigation. While these Senators may have profound differences in opinion with NIAC, particularly on the question of escalation and potential war with Iran, the Justice Department is not the forum to resolve those debates. These tactics have no place in our political process or our national discourse, and risk turning our Justice Department into a political tool to intimidate and silence voices that disagree with whichever administration is in power. We are concerned that everyone involved in contentious policy debates, regardless of political persuasion, will be at risk.

We are proud to stand with NIAC and commend its essential contribution to the public debate.

Signed, 

 Lawrence B. Wilkerson
Former Chief of Staff to Secretary of State

Robert Malley
Former Special Assistant to the President

Lawrence Korb
Former Assistant Secretary of Defence 

Jon Finer
 Former Chief of Staff and Director of Policy Planning at the State Department

Melody Moezzi
Author, Attorney, Activist, & Professor

Reza Aslan
Author and Professor

Bitta Mostofi
Public Servant & Advocate

Jewish Voice for Peace (JVP) & JVP Action

MoveOn

VoteVets

Win Without War

... and many, many more. Read the full letter and signers list here.

🖋️ Add Your Name >>

 

     

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