The NAYS are multiplying, but the YAYS are pulling out their big guns. Could online organizing giant Avaaz help us stop the US bombing of Syria? Sign this petition to find out.
We are within reach of doing something unprecedented: stopping a U.S. war before it starts by means of a Congressional vote. We have public opinion our side including a majority of Democrats, a majority of Republicans, and a majority of Independents. We have MoveOn, CREDO, VoteVets, and Win Without War, among many other groups, active on the left; meanwhile the Campaign for Liberty and Heritage Action are active on the right. ABC’s whip count has 217 Members of the House as “oppose” or “likely to oppose.”
Calls into Congressional offices and participation at town meetings are overwhelmingly against the plan to attack Syria. Texas Republican Rep. John Culberson said 96 percent of his calls were opposed. MoveOn, CREDO, and Win Without War are organizing local actions around the country on Monday, September 9, at 7 PM local time.
But we also face one of the most powerful political forces in America. The American Israel Public Affairs Committee, which administration officials told The New York Times was the “the 800-pound gorilla in the room” that was going to ensure Congressional support for the war, is openly lobbying Congress in favor of the war. The head of the Congressional Black Caucus, Marcia Fudge, considered to be very close to AIPAC, is telling members of the CBC to shut up about Syria.
In short, given the political Goliath confronting us, we can’t have too much organizational strength on our side.
Wouldn’t it be great if Avaaz – “The world’s largest and most effective online campaigning community for change” – would be on our side?
I think it would be great, and there’s something simple that each of us could do to help bring it about.
The actor and director Danny Glover, working with the Win Without War coalition, has set up a petition against the United States bombing of Syria at the Avaaz petition site. The petition – which is the same statement that the Win Without War coalition is sending to Congress – reads:
“The Win Without War coalition is strongly opposed to American military intervention in Syria and urges Congress to reject any proposed authorization for the use of military force. The use of chemical weapons is abhorrent. However, we urge our leaders to pursue a response to the apparent use of these weapons in Syria that rejects the false choice between bombing and impunity. We agree with US military leaders who assert that only a political solution will end the suffering of the Syrian people and urge all parties to pursue such a settlement.”
The more people sign and share this petition, the more Avaaz members will see it. Eventually, if enough Avaaz members sign the petition, Avaaz will adopt the campaign to stop the US bombing of Syria.
The goals here are three:
1. To organize Avaaz members to bring Avaaz on board in opposition to the US bombing of Syria; specifically, to get Avaaz to campaign for a no vote in Congress on the US plan to bomb Syria.
2. To publicize the Win Without War statement.
3. To create a channel by which people around the world can help peace advocates in the United States raise the profile of our opposition to the war (anyone in the world can sign an Avaaz petition – you don’t have to be in the United States).
We need something big to counter the 800-pound gorilla. And all you have to do to help us bring Avaaz on board is sign and share the petition.
Help us Prepare for Trump’s Day One
Trump is busy getting ready for Day One of his presidency – but so is Truthout.
Trump has made it no secret that he is planning a demolition-style attack on both specific communities and democracy as a whole, beginning on his first day in office. With over 25 executive orders and directives queued up for January 20, he’s promised to “launch the largest deportation program in American history,” roll back anti-discrimination protections for transgender students, and implement a “drill, drill, drill” approach to ramp up oil and gas extraction.
Organizations like Truthout are also being threatened by legislation like HR 9495, the “nonprofit killer bill” that would allow the Treasury Secretary to declare any nonprofit a “terrorist-supporting organization” and strip its tax-exempt status without due process. Progressive media like Truthout that has courageously focused on reporting on Israel’s genocide in Gaza are in the bill’s crosshairs.
As journalists, we have a responsibility to look at hard realities and communicate them to you. We hope that you, like us, can use this information to prepare for what’s to come.
And if you feel uncertain about what to do in the face of a second Trump administration, we invite you to be an indispensable part of Truthout’s preparations.
In addition to covering the widespread onslaught of draconian policy, we’re shoring up our resources for what might come next for progressive media: bad-faith lawsuits from far-right ghouls, legislation that seeks to strip us of our ability to receive tax-deductible donations, and further throttling of our reach on social media platforms owned by Trump’s sycophants.
We’re preparing right now for Trump’s Day One: building a brave coalition of movement media; reaching out to the activists, academics, and thinkers we trust to shine a light on the inner workings of authoritarianism; and planning to use journalism as a tool to equip movements to protect the people, lands, and principles most vulnerable to Trump’s destruction.
We’re asking all of our readers to start a monthly donation or make a one-time donation – as a commitment to stand with us on day one of Trump’s presidency, and every day after that, as we produce journalism that combats authoritarianism, censorship, injustice, and misinformation. You’re an essential part of our future – please join the movement by making a tax-deductible donation today.
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With gratitude and resolve,
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