As organizations like AIPAC ramp up their congressional lobbying for war with Iran, it’s of the utmost imperative that pro-peace advocates engage with their members of Congress as well. In this video, which contains highlights from a panel held during the 2012 Occupy AIPAC Policy Summit, three peace activists make the case for engaging with Congress to promote peace and prevent war.
Alice Walker - We Will Not Bomb Your Country
On Tuesday, March 20, three powerful women—Gloria Steinem, Alice Walker and Eve Ensler—signed onto a statement drafted by CODEPINK opposing an attack on Iran. The petition implores three powerful American female politicians—Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, Ambassador Susan Rice and First Lady Michelle Obama—to use their influence to push for diplomacy, not bombing, in our relations with Iran.
CODEPINK launched the petition online, on Twitter and Facebook, and in a matter of hours received thousands of signers. The petition launch date was significant: March 20th marked the 9th anniversary of the Iraq invasion, and on a happier note, the Iranian New Year, Norooz. This American petition was created at the request of an Israeli group, the Coalition of Women for Peace, who modeled their own petition after a call to action from a group of women inside Iran. The Israeli, Iranian and U.S. women plan to do more actions together to oppose war.
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Occupy AIPAC was a weekend long series of events to put a spotlight on the abusive practices of the American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC). Coinciding with the annual AIPAC Policy Conference, on March 2-6 2012, we gathered in Washington DC for a policy-style summit on the issues of Iran, the Arab Uprising and Palestine and the affects of AIPAC in determining US foreign policy around those topics.
The American-Israeli Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC), the most powerful pro-Israel lobby in the US, is holding its biggest annual conference yet with around 13,000 delegates in Washington.
For all those bidding to become the next US president, it has become an essential campaign stop. The group has strong ties to the religious right and evangelical voters. And it is a very influential force in Washington politics.
Demonstrators from the occupy movement held a small protest outside the event urging no war on Iran and no US tax dollars for Israel.
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Josh Ruebner from the U.S. Campaign to End the Israeli Occupation details his report on U.S. Military Aid to Israel.
For Immediate Release
Occupy Wall Street Activists Disrupt Sen. Levin in AIPAC Conference Final Plenary: Don’t Bomb Iran, Equality for Palestinians
Washington, DC—On Tuesday, March 6, during Senator Carl Levin’s address to AIPAC, an activist with Occupy Wall Street and CODEPINK unfurled a large “Don’t Bomb Iran” banner and shouted “Don’t bomb Iran; Equal rights for Palestinians.” Responding to the theme of the 2012 AIPAC Policy Conference–Shared Values–the activist proclaimed, “Nonviolence is a shared value!” She was grabbed by security and escorted out of the building. The protesters were Katie Falkenberg and Paul Talbot from New York City, who have been dedicated Occupy Wall Street activists and are members of the Revolutionary Games Collective. They worked with CODEPINK and Occupy AIPAC to coordinate the action.
As head of the Senate Arms Services Committee, Carl Levin has been pushing for every war in the last 10 years, while his constituents in Detroit are suffering from lack of funds for social services, and high unemployment. Levin has supported crippling sanctions that only hurt the Iranian people instead of listening to the military leaders who have cautioned against war on Iran. Senator Carl Levin is fiddling with war while Detroit is burning.
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No War on Iran!
“Mic check! We are the 99%. War benefits the 1%. Don’t bomb Iran! Use diplomacy not bombs!”
Four Occupy AIPAC activists voices erupted yesterday inside the AIPAC conference when Representative Ileana Ros-Lehtinen, who is pushing for a resolution which seeks to lower the threshold for the to US attack Iran, took the stage. An AIPAC delegate leaped over rows of chairs to pounce on the activists, choking one with his own tie. The People’s Microphone continued: “AIPAC wants war. We want peace.”
Today thousands of AIPAC delegates will lobby Congress pushing for military attack on Iran and more money for weapons to Israel. CODEPINK will be on the Hill too. In fact we’ve placed an ad in The Hill—the Washington newspaper read by Congress daily—with an open letter to Congress opposing AIPAC’s push for war on Iran. Thanks to everyone who donated to make this happen!
Join us in calling on Congress to use diplomacy, not bombs. Send a letter to your member of Congress today.
Like a mosquito in the ear of an elephant, this week we’ve succeeded in making a very loud and visible opposition to ongoing Israeli violations of human rights and international law, and opposing war on Iran. Watch key excerpts from the Occupy AIPAC Summit here, read the great news coverage, and see protest photos from Occupy AIPAC.
We remember what the drumbeat to the war on Iraq sounded like. The faint murmur is getting louder. We can’t afford another war. The time to act is now – please reach out to your member of Congress today! Put Peace with Iran on the table in Congress!
In Solidarity,
Occupy AIPAC activists from all over the US
PS: Don’t forget to contact your Congressperson today while we occupy the offices of those who are pushing for war!
For Immediate Release
Open Letter to Congress in Full Page Ad in The Hill: AIPAC Wants War on Iran; We Don’t
What: Activists distribute letter to Congress and occupy the office of Sen. Lindsay Graham, sponsor of S. Res. 380
When: 12pm, Rayburn Cafeteria; 2pm, Russell Senate Office Building, Room 290
Washington, DC—On the heels of a full page ad placed by prominent generals in the Washington Post on March 5 (https://www.commondreams.org/headline/2012/03/05-4), a coalition of organizations, interfaith groups, and individuals have placed a full page ad in the daily newspaper The Hill opposing war on Iran.
The ad reads in part, “The American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC) is on the warpath—this time with Iran. They say the U.S. should be willing to attack Iran or support an Israeli attack. AIPAC pushed our government into the catastrophic war in Iraq… The majority of Americans do not want another war in the Middle East and the US can’t afford a war during the worst economic downturn since the Great Depression.” (See full ad text here: http://j.mp/hillad)
President Obama stated to AIPAC on Sunday, “I have said that when it comes to preventing Iran from obtaining a nuclear weapon, I will take no options off the table, and I mean what I say. That includes all elements of American power: a political effort aimed at isolating Iran, a diplomatic effort to sustain our coalition and ensure that the Iranian program is monitored, an economic effort that imposes crippling sanctions and, yes, a military effort to be prepared for any contingency.”
An anti-war contingent with Occupy AIPAC plans to occupy the office of Senator Lindsey Graham to show opposition for S. Res. 380, a bill he sponsored which would lower the threshold for the US to go to war with Iran. They will also be visiting the offices of all the members of the House and Senate Foreign Affairs and Armed Services Committees.
AIPAC wants war with Iran.
On March 6, 2012, Occupy AIPAC placed an ad in the Washington daily The Hill with an open letter to Congress from Americans of the 99% and a coalition of peace, justice, and interfaith organizations.
Click here to download the PDF file
To the Members of the United States Congress: The American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC) is on the warpath—this time with Iran. They say the U.S. should be willing to attack Iran or support an Israeli attack.
AIPAC pushed our government into the catastrophic war in Iraq by exaggerating Saddam Hussein’s threat and lying about weapons of mass destruction. Now they are repeating history, with AIPAC lobbyists vastly exaggerating Iran’s nuclear threat and eschewing negotiations. AIPAC continues to lobby for policies that prohibit a just peace for Israelis and Palestinians and support violations of international law. AIPAC’s views do not represent the values and interests of the majority of the American people who voted for you, who pay the taxes that fund our government, and whose family members serve in the U.S. military.
The majority of Americans do not want another war in the Middle East and the US can’t afford a war during the worst economic downturn since the Great Depression. The Iraq war left thousands of Americans and hundreds of thousands of Iraqis dead. We implore you not to repeat this tragic mistake. Say no to AIPAC, no to war with Iran and yes to diplomacy.
