1. United States
2. Calif.
3. Letter

Dear Senators Schiff and Padilla, I’m writing as a deeply concerned and disappointed Californian. I recently learned about your votes against Senator Bernie Sanders’s resolutions that would have blocked the sale of bombs and rifles to Israel, even as the humanitarian crisis in Gaza continues to worsen. I’m struggling to understand how you could, in good conscience, support continued U.S. arms sales under these circumstances. These weapons aren’t being used in a vacuum, they’re fueling a military campaign that has already killed thousands of civilians, destroyed homes, flattened hospitals, and pushed Gaza to the brink of famine. Human rights organizations, the U.N., and countless journalists have made it clear: this is not just a war, it’s a crisis of humanity. Many are calling it genocide. And you voted to keep funding it. It’s not enough to say you support peace or a two-state solution when your actions directly empower the machinery of mass suffering. By opposing these resolutions, you made it clear that political alliances and defense industry interests took priority over basic human rights and moral accountability. That’s not leadership, it’s complicity. I expected more from you, especially in a moment when history is watching. I urge you to reconsider the role you’re playing in this conflict. I want to see you support measures that stop arming governments engaged in indiscriminate violence and start pushing for meaningful accountability and diplomacy. This isn’t just about foreign policy. It’s about who we are as a country, and whether we’re willing to stand up for human life, even when it’s politically inconvenient. I hope you’ll take this seriously. I’m not alone in my disappointment, and I will be paying close attention to how you vote in the months ahead.