"WE ARE ALL CULPABLE IN THE ONGOING GENOCIDE IN GAZA" - MATT NELSON

Matt Nelson, the man in Boston who recently self-immolated outside the Israeli consulate trying to get this administration to take action against Israel's genocide, had what is likely some of his last words shared in a video. I want to share them with you. "My name is Matt Nelson and I'm about to engage in an extreme act of protest. We are all culpable in the ongoing genocide in Gaza. We are slaves to capitalism and the military industrial complex. Most of us are too apathetic to care. The protest I'm about to engage in is a call to our government to stop supplying Israel with the money and weapons it uses to imprison and murder innocent Palestinians, to pressure Israel to end the genocide in Gaza, and to support the ICC indictment of Benjamin Netanyahu and other members of the Israeli government. A democracy is supposed to serve the will of the people, not the interests of the wealthy. Take the power back. Free Palestine." He is right - a democracy is supposed to reflect the will of the people. The majority of Americans, across party lines, want an immediate, permanent ceasefire and for U.S. military weapons and aid to stop being sent to Israel. I demand you do everything in your power to: – Hold Israel accountable to a permanent, immediate ceasefire and for their repeat violations of international law – Call for the immediate end of Israel’s occupation and apartheid - Support Palestinians in their fight for freedom and peace – Secure the immediate release and safety of all hostages, including Palestinians held by Israel in "military prisons", including those whose indefinite detention began prior to 10/7 – Permanently end all monetary, diplomatic, and military aid given to Israel and enforce U.S. laws like Leahy Law and the Arms Export Control Act – Resume full funding of UNRWA and allocate more funds to aid humanitarian efforts to rebuild Gaza, and provide Palestinians with the resources to survive and thrive – Immediately withdraw all U.S. troops, military assets, and all other assets deployed throughout the Middle East and cease all actions that further escalate a larger regional conflict - Void all anti-BDS laws and other laws that infringe on my right to freedom of speech to criticize any political ideology or country, and to use my money in ways that align with my values