Daily KosWith Netanyahu’s address to Congress coming up next week, Jewish Voice for Peace, along with Code Pink, Roots Action and US Campaign to End the Israeli Occupation sent letters and petitions to members of Congress from thousands of constituents telling them to #SkipThe Speech on March 3rd. The letters were delivered to 75 Congress members who have already committed to bailing on the speech or have indicated their reluctance to attend. More than 37,000 people have sent more than 110,000 letters, and another 20,000 signed a petition telling members to stay away.
Rebecca Vilkomerson, the Executive Director of Jewish Voice for Peace stated, “A growing constituency of American Jews oppose Israeli policies led by Netanyahu that entrench the occupation and oppress Palestinians. The 2013 Pew study of Jewish Americans and a poll during the war on Gaza in 2014 demonstrate growing criticism for Israeli policy among young people and Democrats. It’s time for our elected officials to follow their lead.”
Josh Ruebner, of the US Campaign to End the Israeli Occupation, stated: As the head of a government engaged in serious human rights abuses and war crimes, including last summer’s attack on Gaza, Netanyahu should never have been honored with an invitation to address Congress in the first place.”
On another front, Code Pink and a long list of co-sponsors will be rolling out their#ShutDownAIPAC campaign on Feb. 28-March 3 with demonstrations in DC featuring Noura Erakat, Jewish Voice for Peace organizer Ariel Gold, Ferguson organizers Tef Poe and Tara Thompson, Native American activist Andrew Curley, and Dream Defenders founder Ahmed Abuznaidi. The time is long past due to call out AIPAC and Democratic politicians who do their bidding. With the Student Senates of both Stanford and Northwestern having just voted to disinvest from Israeli companies that profit from the Occupation, the movement keeps gathering momentum.