Former Biden Campaign Staff Demand Immediate Ceasefire
Five hundred staff members from the Biden 2020 presidential election campaign released a public letter demanding that he call for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza. The Biden Alumni for Peace and Justice letter states: "We fought tirelessly to organize millions of Americans to cast their votes for you. Like you, we believe in the dignity and value of every human life and the need for moral courage from our country's leadership. We implore you, President Biden, to live that moral courage right now by stepping up to be a leader we can be proud of in the face of injustice. As President of the United States, you have significant influence in this perilous moment -- you must call for a ceasefire, hostage exchange, and de-escalation, and take concrete steps to address the conditions of occupation, apartheid, and ethnic cleansing at the root of the horrific violence we are witnessing now.
"....[W]e were shocked and saddened to see you justify the death of Palestinian children as "the price of waging a war."
"Leading human rights organizations agree that Israel is imposing collective punishment on the 2 million people in Gaza -- half of whom are children -- by cutting them off from food, electricity, and water. And now, trapped in constant terror for their lives and families, Palestinians in Gaza are facing an urgent existential threat at the hands of the Israeli military. [...]
"The majority of Americans (66 per cent) and Democrats (80 per cent), are in agreement -- a ceasefire is the bare minimum. Across the country, tens of thousands of people are rising up in protest, demanding an end to Israel's brutal siege of Gaza, and to the United States' continued support of Israel's occupation and war crimes. ...
"... The only way to achieve lasting justice and peace for Palestinians and Israelis is to take concrete steps to end the brutal conditions of apartheid, occupation, and siege that are at the root of the violence we are witnessing now. If you don't use the tremendous power of your position to call for a ceasefire immediately, we may never get that chance.
"... [W]e are calling on you to: Publicly call for -- and use financial and diplomatic leverage to bring about -- an immediate ceasefire; Advocate for de-escalation in the region, including demanding that Hamas release all hostages and that Israel release over 1,200 people in administrative detention -- 99 per cent of whom are Palestinians -- being held without charge; End unconditional military aid to Israel; Investigate whether Israel's actions in Gaza violate the Leahy Law, prohibiting U.S. military aid from funding foreign military units implicated in the commission of gross violations of human rights; Take concrete steps to end the conditions of apartheid, occupation, and ethnic cleansing that are the root causes of this devastation."
This article was published in
Volume 53 Number 23 - November 2023
Article Link:
https://cpcml.ca/Tmlm2023/Articles/MS532312.HTM
Website: www.cpcml.ca Email: editor@cpcml.ca