ACTION ALERT: Tell Congress to Oppose Weapons Shipments to Ukraine

Action Network

(September 9, 2022) — On May 19th, 2022, the US Congress approved a $40 billion aid package in response to Russia’s illegal invasion of Ukraine, the second bill of its kind in two months. It includes $19 billion in weapons and military aid and $6 billion for the Pentagon and NATO members. The package makes Ukraine the recipient of more than $30 billion in military aid this year, more than any other nation.

We recognize the urgent need for humanitarian aid, but we are deeply concerned that continued weapons shipments will prolong the war in Ukraine and discourage a negotiated settlement.

While a ceasefire and a total withdrawal of Russian troops would be the surest and quickest way to peace, we strongly oppose escalations from the US, including further weapons shipments, for the following reasons:

1. It will needlessly prolong the war, resulting in more civilian deaths. It risks escalating and widening the war — up to and including nuclear war.
2. It is funneling billions of taxpayer dollars to the Pentagon and the military industrial complex at a time when ordinary Americans are struggling to pay for housing, groceries, and fuel. This is a payout to weapons manufacturers and war profiteers, which will increase their lobbying power and further entrench militarism in American politics.
3. The billions in US taxpayers’ dollars are desperately needed to address vital American needs at home, such as an overburdened health care system, our affordable housing crisis, a failing education system, decaying public transit, and the existential threat of climate change.

Let us be as clear as possible: investing billions in yet another war is a slap in the face for working people. Congress has failed to pass legislation that addresses the rising costs of healthcare, housing, childcare, transportation, and food. This is an embarrassment and a failure.

ACTION: Please write your representative and tell them to stand against militarism, to advocate for diplomacy and de-escalation, and to fight for an economy of peace that puts the needs of working-class people first.

Biden’s Billions Go to Warmongering

Biden is calling for another $13.7 billion to fund the war on top of the $50+ billion already funded, but we demand $$$ for climate, jobs, healthcare, and housing — not for more weapons to escalate the war and enrich military contractors.

Now, we’re asking you to take action. DSA’s International Committee is a member of the Peace In Ukraine Coalition. The Coalition is calling for a Nationwide Week of Action starting Monday, September 12 to say YES to negotiations and NO to an endless proxy war with Russia in Ukraine! Keep reading for recommended actions this week.

What You Can Do Now:

• Signour letter demanding your own members of Congress oppose weapons shipments to Ukraine. [See THE LETTER below.]
• Join an action happening in your areaor organize your own:

Actions are currently planned in Washington DC, Brooklyn, Rockville, MD; Milwaukee, WI; Madison, WI; Nashville, TN; Philadelphia, PA, Newton, Quincy and Maiden, MA, as well five cities in California: San Francisco, San Pedro, Los Angeles, San Mateo and Santa Barbara.

1. Peace delegations will meet inside and outside the congressional offices of Representatives Jaimie Raskin (MD-08), Katherine Clark (MA-05), Jake Auchincloss (MA-4), Stephen Lynch (MA-08), Judy Chu (CA-27), Salud Carbajal (CA-24), Jim Cooper, (TN-05), Adriano de Jesús Espaillat Rodríguez (NY-13), and Ted Lieu (CA-33), as well as Senators Padilla and Feinstein (CA).
2. Watch and share the recording of our recent Ukraine Webinar: The War in Ukraine, Impacts and Perspectives: Women, Workers, and Global South featuring Olena Lyubchenko, Yurii Sheliazhenko, Sopo Japaridze, Pawel Wargan, Richard Wolff, and Vijay Prashad. The recording is available and shareable on YouTube, Facebook, Twitter, and the IC’s website.
3. Share these calls to action with your comrades and your local chapters/groups.

If you have any questions or concerns, you can respond directly to this email or write to ic-antiwar@dsacommittees.org.

THE LETTER
As your constituent, I am writing to express my great disappointment in response to your recent vote to approve a $40 billion aid package to Ukraine.

While I recognize the urgent need for humanitarian aid, military aid makes up the majority of the package. This will needlessly prolong the war, resulting in more civilian deaths. It risks escalating and widening the war — up to and including nuclear war.

The package also funnels billions of taxpayer dollars to the Pentagon and the military industrial complex at a time when ordinary Americans are struggling to pay for healthcare, housing, childcare, transportation, and food. This is a payout to weapons manufacturers and war profiteers, that increases global hostilities and makes Americans less safe.

These billions in US taxpayers’ dollars are desperately needed to address vital American needs at home, such as an overburdened health care system, our affordable housing crisis, a failing education system, decaying public transit, and the existential threat of climate change.

I Call on the Congressperson to:

1. Vote NO on any future weapons shipments to Ukraine;
2. Support oversight hearings on prior weapons shipments;
3. Urge President Biden to back a ceasefire and a negotiated settlement; and
4. Urge President Biden to lift key sanctions impacting ordinary Russian citizens in return for concessions from Russia.

Please represent the interests of your constituents and not the interest of weapons manufacturers by working relentlessly for de-escalation, not for more war. I look forward to your written response and look forward to sharing your thoughts with our community.

ACTION ALERT:
A Week of Actions to End Ukraine War

CODEPINK

Tell Congress: Negotiations Not Escalation!  

(September 8, 2022) — Join CODEPINK and the Peace in Ukraine Coalition as we launch our September Week of Action to say YES to negotiations and NO to an endless proxy war with Russia in Ukraine! At CODEPINK, we demand money for climate, jobs, healthcare and housing, not for more weapons to escalate the war and enrich military contractors.

ACTION: Take our first action with us now! Tell Congress: Negotiate, Do Not Escalate-Do Not Risk Nuclear War!

The website for the Peace in Ukraine Coalition includes a rundown and talking points for each of the four days of our September Week of Action.

Join us each day as we amplify our message.

• On Mon., Sept. 12: Contact Congress at (202) 224-3121!
• On Tues., Sept. 13: Contact the White House & State Department!
• On Wed., Sept. 14: Contact the Media to promote alternative voices!
• On Thurs, Sept. 15: Organize a delegation inside your congress members’ offices or a rally/protest outside. Freeze the weapons shipments! Post your congressional event at this link and CODEPINK can help you spread the word on social media and among CODEPINK supporters. Resources (posters, graphics, talking points) can be found here.

If Ukraine and Russia can negotiate grain exports, prisoner exchanges and a nuclear reactor inspection, they can negotiate an end to this crisis. It’s time to demand that President Biden engage in direct talks with Russia and that Congress redirect $$$ to address urgent needs at home.

Here In This Country
• 100 million are steeped in medical debt,
• 100 million may face eviction,
• 38 million are food insecure and
• millions more contend with inflationary woes.
• Thousands of residents of Flint, Michigan, still have no clean water.

Sometime this fall, the Senate is slated to vote on an $850 billion military budget. If you are organizing a rally in front of your US Senators’ offices, urge them to also vote NO on the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA), which will funnel more $$$ into weapons for Ukraine.

Also, please encourage friends and allies to join our Peace in Ukraine Coalition and encourage them to participate in our September Week of Action 12-15th by forwarding this message!

Thank you for your commitment to world peace.

Towards Peace, Marcy Winograd CODEPINK Rep to Peace in Ukraine Coalition Coordinator, CODEPINK Congress