STOP HISTORY FROM REPEATING - CALL FOR A CEASEFIRE NOW

How many times must history repeat itself before we stop it? In the words of Israeli-American doctor of psychology & neuroscience Yoav Litvin, “Beyond justifying violent land theft, the conflation of Zionism and Judaism serves to delegitimise Indigenous resistance by equating any criticism of Zionism or Israel’s policies towards the Palestinians as an attack on Jews.” I quote his words because I am aware saying them myself serves to mark me and anyone else who signs this letter as an espouser of hate speech. Beyond the multiple resolutions Congress has proposed & passed to serve as precedent for this erroneous conflation, it’s clear with every action this administration has taken that my government will do anything possible to stifle my freedom of speech and the freedom of the press as it relates to Israel. Americans are crying out for a ceasefire. The world is crying out for a ceasefire. We know it’s possible for our country to stop this. Reagan accomplished it in one phone call in 1982. Instead, the U.N. Security Council has been crippled by the U.S. veto vote and our president refuses to stand on the right side of history. I demand that you: - Call for an immediate and permanent ceasefire in Gaza, the West Bank, and all areas the Israeli military is murdering or otherwise violating the human rights of Palestinians - Call for the immediate end of genocide, apartheid, and occupation, and support Palestinians in their fight for freedom, peace, and their human rights - Call for the immediate release of Palestinian “prisoners” (hostages) held captive in Israeli military prisons - Permanently end all monetary and military aid given to Israel by correcting our budget and enforcing Leahy Law - Reallocate all funds given to Israel to ongoing humanitarian relief for Palestinians to help them rebuild, care for the sick & injured, bury the dead with dignity, and ensure all of their basic needs are taken care of - Repeal all federal anti-BDS laws and pass legislation that voids all state-level anti-BDS laws - Restore my right to free speech and the freedom of the press by condemning all discrimination or harassment for criticizing any government or political ideology (including zionism) and by doing everything possible to prevent future assaults to my rights, including governmental control and/or censorship of the Internet - Stop the militarization of our police by ending all cross-training done with the Israeli military, ceasing the construction of the Atlanta Public Safety Training Center, and all other ways this is accomplished - Pass legislation that prohibits any governmental action that would target any ethnic, religious, or other minority group (including Palestinians), either in the U.S. or abroad, by restricting humanitarian or financial aid, infringing on their human rights, or other actions that would otherwise bring harm or cause undue burdens on said groups