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Isaac Evans-Frantz, [email protected], @theactioncorps
Isaac Evans-Frantz, director of Action Corps, released the following statement, following the Senate’s historic vote on blocking the illegal sales of weapons to the Israeli government: “The U.S. Senate just made history by holding votes on resolutions to restrict military aid and weapons to the Israeli government while it starves Gaza. Nearly half of President Biden’s party in the Senate voted to block the weapons, showing growing opposition to the president’s blank check for the genocide and wars in the Middle East. This is the first time the Senate has ever debated and voted on a resolution intended to restrict weapons and military aid to the Israeli government, and it was the result of tireless work of activists around the country. “The movement toward this vote began when Action Corps Vermont activists and allies secured Sen. Bernie Sanders’ pledge to introduce the resolutions, at a senior center in Brattleboro, Vermont, in August. Leading up to Wednesday’s vote, Action Corps and its partners organized across the country to rally support. “During Wednesday’s vote, seven members of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, Sen. Dick Durbin – the Senate Majority Whip – and many of their colleagues, sent a clear message to Presidents Biden and Trump, that a powerful segment of the Senate is ready to cancel the blank check for the genocide and war. “This vote is an important step forward in reclaiming the power of the American people – through their representation in Congress – over weapons, war, and peace.”
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Hamas’ attack on Israel this past weekend represents the country’s deadliest in decades. In response, Monday the Israeli defense minister ordered a “complete siege,” cutting Gaza off from electricity, fuel, and food. Israel is pummeling the country, striking offices, mosques, and residential buildings. Action Corps condemns the Hamas attacks – including its attacks on Israeli civilians and its taking of hostages – and the Israeli military and settlers’ assault on the Palestinian people.
Action Corps urges members of Congress to join Sen. Ed Markey, and Reps. Barbara Lee, Alexandria Ocasio Cortez and Cori Bush, humanitarian organizations like Oxfam, and faith-based organizations like the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops, in calling for ceasefire, de-escalation and respect for civilian populations. Furthermore, we call on U.S. lawmakers to enforce U.S. law on U.S. military aid to Israel, preventing the use of U.S. weapons against civilians or in civilian areas. Americans should press Congress to do its job. Congress should ensure that the U.S. follows international law and norms, and holds the executive branch accountable for the effects of our country’s foreign policy. The road ahead won’t be easy, and there’s suffering to come that we may not be able to stop. But where we can make a difference, let’s. With World Facing One of Worst Economic Forecasts in Decades, Congress Members Urge IMF Assistance Contact:
Dan Beeton, 202-293-5380 x104, [email protected]; Isaac Evans-Frantz, 802-490-7814, [email protected] Washington, DC — Fifty-nine US senators and representatives are urging the Biden administration to support a new major allocation of Special Drawing Rights (SDRs) from the International Monetary Fund (IMF) as a no-cost way to quickly support countries around the world enduring the combined external debt, food, climate, and other crises contributing to one of the worst global economic situations in decades. In a bicameral letter to President Biden and Treasury Secretary Yellen, the lawmakers urge the US to support a new allocation of at least $650 billion worth of SDRs, citing what the IMF itself has described as the worst five-year forecast for the global economy in three decades. The IMF previously issued $650 billion worth of SDRs in August 2021 in response to the global COVID pandemic and related economic shocks. Contacts:
MaryDiane "MD" Baker, Action Corps Vermont organizer, [email protected] Isaac Evans-Frantz, Action Corps director, [email protected] Video: Isaac Evans-Frantz, Action Corps director, joined by Vermonters from across state Saturday, confronted Bernie Saturday about his refusal to meet with constituents about the largest humanitarian crisis on the planet. Rally at Bernie Event: "Meet with Vermonters about Yemen!" Sign messages include “BERNIE: MEET WITH US ABOUT YEMEN.” Mary Diane "MD" Baker, Action Corps Vermont's organizer, based in Brattleboro, had emailed Sen. Sanders' office requesting a meeting for Vermonters with him about Yemen, and Friday at approximately 11:20pm received an email stating that the senator would not be available for a meeting. The group had requested an in-person or Zoom meeting. “Vermonters, as Bernie's constituents,” she said, “Should be able to meet with their senator about Yemen.” Rep. Khanna Recognized for Leadership to Stop War in Yemen, Announces Letter to Biden Administration2/21/2021 Sunday, February 21, 2021, the grassroots humanitarian advocacy organization Action Corps recognized Rep. Ro Khanna (D-CA) for his leadership in ending U.S. participation in the Saudi-led coalition in the war in Yemen that has resulted in what the U.N. has called the largest humanitarian crisis.
Rep. Khanna announced that he and Rep. DeFazio are issuing a letter that clarifies President Biden’s statement on ending participation in Saudi offenses in Yemen, “to make sure we clarify that should mean any bombing of Yemen. We have to clarify that language,” he said. Rep. Khanna further stated the U.S. must play “a constructive role to help the reconstruction, because we caused a great suffering. We need to be a part of the solution.” Isaac Evans-Frantz, Action Corps director, said the organization is calling on representatives to join Mr. Khanna on that letter. Somia Elrowmeim, chair of the board of Action Corps, delivered the statement recognizing Mr. Khanna. She highlighted a U.N. donor summit on March 1, 2021, by which time, she said, the U.S. should commit to restoring and expanding desperately humanitarian assistance to Yemen. This assistance was suspended by Sec. Pompeo, and restoration of assistance would likely set an example for other donor countries. "I want to thank the organizers of Action Corps for organizing this vigil and for all of your important work in solidarity with Black lives to achieve racial justice. I join you, and millions of people around the world, in expressing sadness and anger at the vicious murder of Mr. Floyd. This police murder is an outrage that strikes at the very heart of our society. This one murder is just the latest manifestation of a system that so callously devalues the lives of Black people. So many people are coming together, from all backgrounds, to fight for justice. People ask me, are you optimistic for the future of the country? And I am. Because I see the beauty and the decency in all of you, and so many young people who want to create a better society. People are going to be looking back at this moment as just an unprecedented extraordinary moment in the history of this country, and I thank you for your efforts to bring about lasting change.
On Friday, June 4, 2020, at 7:00am ET, the steering committee of Action Corps released the following statement:
“Action Corps champions justice in solidarity with people most affected by violent conflict. From Africa to the United States and beyond, White people have inflicted violence upon Black people for centuries -- the violence of shackles, prison bars, and guns, and the insidious violence of social exclusion, deprivation, and theft of human and natural resources. The issue of police brutality has yet again come to light through the murders of Breonna Taylor, Ahmaud Arbery, and most recently George Floyd. People protesting this violence have been met with further violence, as in the recent tear gassing and shooting at peaceful protestors in Washington, DC, which the Trump administration now falsely denies. |
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