Silent Vigil Tonight: No (Illegal) War
CALL TODAY AND LEAVE A MESSAGE; SCRIPT IN POST
A quick post today. Some of us heard last night, some are awakening to the news. The US has bombed Iran. For deeper dives, Tom Nichols in The Atlantic had a useful piece (gift article) and Rebecca Solnit wrote this, “We're at War and We're Not (Because Only Congress Can Declare War): Some Notes TonightSilent Vigil tonight. Register here
It is a somber time. We just learned that the US has bombed Iran. We are now at war.
Gather at the Bull in Downtown Durham at 6:30 pm on Sunday for a silent vigil to show upport for peace. This will be a peaceful gathering.
If you want to bring signs, please make them about peace. Bring a candle if you like or use your cell phone. (It gets dark late these days, so there may not be much darkness to light up…but we will be there)
Take Action Now:
Call our feckless Senators and leave a message today. Or email here Or use 5calls app or 5calls.org
Thom Tillis: D.C. (202) 224-6342 Raleigh (919) 856-4630 Charlotte (704) 509-9087
Ted Budd: D.C. 202-224-3154 Raleigh 984-349-5061 Wilmington 910-218-7600
Suggested Script:
This is (name) from (zip)
We cannot risk the devastating human and economic cost of another war in the Middle East. We need diplomacy with Iran – not another forever-war.
Please oppose war with Iran, and sign on to Senator Kaine’s War Powers Resolution.
A longer script if you like:
This is (name) a constituent from (zip)
The President has now taken illegal action by involving the United States in a war without Congressional approval. This is a clear violation of our Constitution and endangers American lives, threatens our service members in the Middle East, risks terrorism within our borders. The Director of National Intelligence said Iran did not have nuclear weapons. We now have a 22 year old with no experience running our US Homeland Terrorism.
It is time for the Senator to take back Congressional power. Senator Kaine has introduced a War Powers Resolution. I demand that the Senator oppose war with Iran, and support the Kaine War Powers Resolution.
Legacy media seems to be ignoring that this is illegal. Also ignoring that the fact that the President informed only the GOP leaders of Congress prior to the strikes.
A useful statement:
VAN HOLLEN STATEMENT ON TRUMP DECISION TO ATTACK IRAN
“Trump said he would end wars; now he has dragged America into one. His actions are a clear violation of our Constitution – ignoring the requirement that only the Congress has the authority to declare war. While we all agree that Iran must not have a nuclear weapon, Trump abandoned diplomatic efforts to achieve that goal and instead chose to unnecessarily endanger American lives, further threaten our armed forces in the region, and risk pulling America into another long conflict in the Middle East. The U.S. intelligence community has repeatedly assessed that Iran is not building a nuclear weapon. There was more time for diplomacy to work.
“The war in Iraq was also started under false pretenses. It’s clear that President Trump has been outmaneuvered by Prime Minister Netanyahu, who opposed the JCPOA negotiated by President Obama and has long favored drawing America into a war against Iran. The United States has rightly supported Israel’s defense, but it should not have joined Netanyahu in waging this war of choice. Instead of living up to his claim that he’d bring all wars to an end, Trump is yet again betraying Americans by embroiling the United States directly in this conflict.”
Please remember this:
Also…article here
SPEAKING OF WAGGING THE DOG, THEY ARE STILL TRYING TO TAKE AWAY PEOPLE’S HEALTHCARE. JOIN A PHONEBANK THIS WEEK. TOO MANY PEOPLE STILL DON’T KNOW WHAT IS IN THIS BUDGET AND THAT THEIR HEALTHCARE IS AT RISK. REGISTER HERE
Congress will soon vote on whether to advance a budget resolution that would take away TRILLIONS of dollars of support and assistance from everyday people, including the largest proposed cuts to Medicaid in history.
This budget would enact $2.5 trillion in cuts to vital public programs their own constituents depend on, including Medicaid, food assistance, and education, to help fund their massive tax giveaway for the ultra-wealthy and big corporations.
Join MoveOn, Working Families Power, Indivisible, Community Change Action, and Public Citizen for a national phone bank to Medicaid recipients urging them to call their Senators ahead of the upcoming budget vote to stop the cuts and save Medicaid!
Called both of our senators who seem to have completely abdicated their responsibility and repeatedly violated their oaths of office.