New Signal Leak Raises Alarm as Civilian Deaths Mount in Unconstitutional U.S. Strikes on Yemen4/22/2025 Congress should exercise its authority to stop strikes on Yemen
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE April 22, 2025 CONTACT: Isaac Evans-Frantz, Director, Action Corps isaac(at)actioncorps.org WASHINGTON, D.C. – Action Corps, a humanitarian advocacy group, and Peace Action, the nation’s largest grassroots peace network, on Tuesday, April 22, called for Congress to introduce a War Powers Resolution to end U.S. military operations in Yemen, following disturbing new reports of civilian deaths and a second leak of sensitive war planning details by Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth. On Easter Sunday, April 20, The New York Times reported that the U.S. struck a densely populated section of Sana’a, the Yemeni capital, killing 12 people and injuring 30. Dr. Aisha Jumaan, the Seattle-based president of the Yemen Relief and Reconstruction Foundation, said of the bombings that day, “They bombed a market in Sana’a, killing many.” The administration has not sought authorization from Congress, as required by Article I of the U.S. Constitution and the War Powers Resolution of 1973. The 1973 law allows Congress to end U.S. participation in hostilities not authorized by a formal declaration or specific legislation. “This is a critical test of Congress’ role under the Constitution,” said Evans-Frantz. “We urge lawmakers to step up now—not after more civilians are killed or more classified information is mishandled.” The Trump administration launched the current air campaign in Yemen on March 15 without congressional authorization. The following day Dr. Anees al-Asbahi, a spokesperson for the Ansar Allah (Houthi) government health ministry, reported that 53 people had been killed, including women and children, and 98 people injured, in one of the most expansive attacks on the country since October 2023. The strikes reportedly included attacks on residential areas in Yemen’s capital Sana’a, the Dahyan power station, a cancer facility being built in the city of Saada, and critical infrastructure across multiple governorates. From March 23 to 24, the U.S. pummeled the country with airstrikes on Sadaa, Hodeida, and Sana’a, striking a building in Sana’a that resulted in at least one death and 13 people injured, according to local authorities. The U.S. administration has continued the strikes since. Second Signal Leak Raises New Security Questions According to a New York Times investigation published Saturday, Defense Secretary Hegseth used a Signal chat on his personal phone, which included his wife, brother, and personal lawyer—to share flight schedules of F/A-18 Hornets ahead of the March 15 airstrikes on Yemen.
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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: March 27, 2025
CONTACT: Isaac Evans-Frantz, [email protected] WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. airstrikes across Yemen since March 15 are unconstitutional acts of war that lack congressional authorization, said the organizations DAWN, Action Corps, and Just Foreign Policy today. Congress should stop strikes on Yemen and uphold its sole authority to declare war under Article I of the Constitution and the 1973 War Powers Resolution (WPR). The strikes also violate Chapters I and VII of the United Nations Charter, which prohibits states from launching a war unless in self-defense or authorized by the U.N. Security Council. "President Trump has not only launched us into a new military escapade in the Middle East, he's done so in breach of our Constitution, which requires congressional authorization to start a war," said Isaac Evans-Frantz, director of Action Corps. "Congress should demand an end to this reckless, unauthorized war that will both harm U.S. interests and continue to terrorize the Yemeni people who have already suffered years of U.S.-backed violence." Action Corps strongly condemns President Trump’s statements calling for the displacement of Palestinians from Gaza, an act that constitutes ethnic cleansing. His remarks, which frame the removal of over a million Palestinians as a solution, signal U.S. complicity in a grave violation of international law and further embolden Israeli war crimes.
The forcible transfer of civilians is explicitly prohibited under the Fourth Geneva Convention. Yet, Trump has openly pressured Egypt and Jordan to accept displaced Palestinians, while his administration reinforces Israeli military actions that have devastated Gaza. This follows the Biden administration’s own role in cutting off life-saving aid to UNRWA, the United Nations agency that assists Palestinians, and continuing weapons sales that fuel Israel’s assault. Palestinian people in Gaza have endured siege, bombardment, and deprivation for decades. Now, they face an existential threat, as Israeli and U.S. officials call for ethnic cleansing, permanent exile, and settler expansion. We call on Congress to reject Trump’s statements, block all U.S. participation in Palestinian displacement, and restore funding for humanitarian aid. The Palestinian people must not be forced to leave their land, and people displaced by war must have the right to return. 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.” 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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