(WASHINGTON D.C., 12/18/23) — Tomorrow (Dec. 19), more than 80 national movement and organizational leaders will stage a protest on Capitol Hill to demand a permanent ceasefire in Gaza and oppose the Biden administration’s proposed military aid package sending billions of taxpayer dollars to Israel, U.S. southern border militarization, and immigration enforcement.
Leaders will take this unprecedented action as the U.S. Senate debates the $106 billion spending package, with President Biden and Senate Democrats signaling a willingness to concede to Republicans’ demands for sweeping immigration reforms to pass the package prior to Congress’ holiday recess. If passed, the package will further fuel Israel’s genocide in Gaza as the Biden administration refuses to call for a ceasefire and cause irrevocable harm to immigrants and migrants in the U.S. and at our borders.
The diverse coalition includes leaders from Palestinian, immigrant, Jewish, veteran, climate, labor, and youth groups representing the interests of tens of millions of people across the U.S., including constituents of critical states, such as Michigan, Pennsylvania, Wisconsin, Minnesota, and Florida. The action signals growing solidarity between communities across movements, as seen in the release of a separate joint statement from more than 60 racial and economic justice, immigrant, Palestinian, Jewish, environmental, labor, and allied groups opposing the supplemental package and attempts from Congress and the Biden administration to use their communities as bargaining chips.
The leaders announced their participation in tomorrow’s action through videos of themselves explaining their intentions rolled out of their organizations’ respective social media platforms this afternoon. The videos are also accessible here.
WHAT: More than 80 national movement and organizational leaders will risk arrest to protest the proposed military funding package sending billions of dollars to Israel to fuel its genocide in Gaza and occupation of the Palestinian people, and to increase border militarization and immigration enforcement in the U.S. and at our southern border.
WHEN: Tuesday, December 19, at 10:00 a.m. ET / 7:00 a.m. PT
WHERE: U.S. Capitol
VISUALS: The coalition of leaders will carry children’s shoes to pay tribute to the more than 8,000 children killed by the Israeli military in Gaza and the thousands of children victimized by ICE and increasing militarization at the U.S.-Mexico border. There will also be banners featuring slogans such as “Ceasefire Now” and “Stop Funding War on Our Communities.”
Sponsoring organizations: Action Center on Race and Economy, Adalah Justice Project, Grassroots Global Justice Alliance, and the US Campaign for Palestinian Rights
Participating organizations: 350.org; Amistad Law Project; Athena Coalition; CAIR Philadelphia; CAIR San Francisco Bay Area (CAIR-SFBA); Center for Popular Democracy; Climate Organizing Hub; Communities United for Status & Protection; Community Labor United; Detention Watch Network; Detroit Action; Fight for the Future; Florida Rising; Florida Palestine Network; Funding Freedom; Grassroots International; HEAL Food Alliance; Highlander Research & Education Center; Jewish Voice for Peace Action; Jews for Racial & Economic Justice; Justice Is Global; Kairos Center for Religions, Rights and Social Justice; LeftRoots; MediaJustice; Minnesota Environmental Justice Table; Movement Law Lab; MPower Change; Muslim Counterpublics Lab; Muslims for Just Futures; Nasty Woman Cosmetics; Native Organizers Alliance; New Justice Project; New York Communities for Change; One Fair Wage; OPEIU Local 12; Pennsylvania Immigration and Citizenship Coalition; Political Research Associates; POWER Interfaith; Progressive Maryland; Puget Sound Sage; Reclaim Philadelphia; Resource Generation; Right to the City Alliance; Rising Majority; Showing Up for Racial Justice; State Power Caucus; Survivors Know; TakeAction Minnesota; The New Justice Project MN; The Organizing Center; Upturn; We the People Michigan.
CAIR-SFBA is an office of CAIR, America’s largest Muslim civil liberties and advocacy organization. Its mission is to enhance understanding of Islam, protect civil rights, promote justice, and empower American Muslims.
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CONTACTS: Alia El Assar, Adalah Justice Project, alia@adalahjusticeproject.org, 407-808-3601; Craig Phelps | contact@craigphelps.com, 314-379-7442; Jesse Brooks, The Worker Agency, Jesse@theworkeragency.com, 908-868-1549; Eli Day, We The People Michigan, eli@wethepeoplemi.org, 313-995-5055; Lorrie Adam, CAIR-SFBA Sr. Communications Coordinator, ladam@cair.com, 408.986.9874