June, 11 2021, 02:13pm EDT
Progressives Support Rep. Omar Against Bad Faith Attacks
50+ national progressive organizations and leaders released the following statement regarding bad faith attacks against Rep. Ilhan Omar for comments earlier this week:
"Representative Ilhan Omar is facing a smear campaign for daring to name what few will: that all victims of war crimes deserve justice, regardless of who commits the crimes. As national progressive organizations and leaders devoted to upholding human rights everywhere and ensuring our democracy can flourish through freedom of speech, we support Rep. Omar and condemn these bad faith attacks.
WASHINGTON
50+ national progressive organizations and leaders released the following statement regarding bad faith attacks against Rep. Ilhan Omar for comments earlier this week:
"Representative Ilhan Omar is facing a smear campaign for daring to name what few will: that all victims of war crimes deserve justice, regardless of who commits the crimes. As national progressive organizations and leaders devoted to upholding human rights everywhere and ensuring our democracy can flourish through freedom of speech, we support Rep. Omar and condemn these bad faith attacks.
"For too long, the United States and its allies have acted with impunity for the atrocities that they commit across the globe. Those who dare to violate Washington taboos and name this simple fact should be commended for their bravery. Instead, they are censored.
"Make no mistake: these attacks and intentional twisting of her words are designed not only to silence criticism of U.S. foreign policy, but to silence an outspoken woman of color. That this latest round of vilification is once again about Rep. Omar in particular is not a coincidence: the repeated targeting of Rep. Omar is rooted in sexism, racism, and anti-Muslim bigotry.
"It is no surprise that Rep. Omar's opponents would seize on any opportunity to once again attack one of Congress's leading progressive voices. The true shame is that many in her own party would buy in to such bad faith attacks.
"We join in solidarity with Rep. Omar and all who are willing to name the simple truth that the United States and its allies should be held accountable for their human rights violations. We urge all members of Congress, and Democratic leadership in particular, to stop falling for manufactured controversy. Fearless leadership for human rights everywhere should be commended, not condemned."
Organizations
Action Center on Race and the Economy
Adalah Justice Project
American Muslim Empowerment Network (AMEN)
Arab American Civic Council
Armenian-American Action Network
Ayada Leads
Center for International Policy
Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR)
Democracy for the Arab World Now (DAWN)
Fellow Travelers
Freedom Forward
Friends of Human Rights
IfNotNow
Indivisible
Institute for Policy Studies - New Internationalism Project
Jetpac Resource Center
Jewish Voice for Peace Action
Jews for Racial & Economic Justice
Justice Democrats
MADRE
Masa Fund
MoveOn
MPower Change
National Iranian American Council
Reviving the Islamic Sisterhood for Empowerment
Revolving Door Project
Social Security Works
South Asian Americans Leading Together
The Feminist Front
UltraViolet
Win Without War
Working Families Party Individuals (Affiliations listed for identification purposes only)
Aneelah Afzali - Executive Director, American Muslim Empowerment Network (AMEN)
Iram Ali - Campaign Strategist
Sophia Armen - Co-Chair, The Feminist Front
Zahra Billoo - CAIR San Francisco Bay Area
Pam Campos-Palma - Director of Peace & Security, Working Families Party
John Cavanagh - Senior Advisor, Institute for Policy Studies
Joseph Cirincione - Quincy Institute for Responsible Statecraft
Hassan El-Tayyab - Friends Committee on National Legislation (FCNL)
Richard (RJ) Eskow - The Zero Hour With RJ Eskow
Colin Hicks - Center for Popular Democracy / CPD Action
Marwa Janini - Arab American Association of New York
Wardah Khalid
Sana Qutubuddin - Indian American Muslim Council
Linda Sarsour - Co-founder, MPower Change, Until Freedom, Women's March
Azadeh Shahshahani - Legal & Advocacy Director, Project South. Past president, National Lawyers Guild.
Ilya Sheyman - Former Executive Director, MoveOn Political Action
Yasmine Taeb - Human rights lawyer and progressive strategist
Murshed Zaheed - Progressive Leader, Changemaker
Simone Zimmerman
Win Without War is a diverse network of activists and organizations working for a more peaceful, progressive U.S. foreign policy. We believe that by democratizing U.S. foreign policy and providing progressive alternatives, we can achieve more peaceful, just, and common sense policies that ensure that all people--regardless of race, nationality, gender, religion, or economic status--can find and take advantage of opportunity equally and feel secure.
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