Maryknoll OGC  Joins Statement Decrying Strike on Iran

The undersigned organizations, representing millions of their members across the country, condemn the unauthorized and unconstitutional U.S. strikes on Iran and urge Members of Congress to publicly support and vote for an Iran War Powers Resolution to prohibit and block further U.S. military force against Iran. 

Earlier this month, Israel launched illegal strikes on Iran in the heart of its capital, Tehran, killing scores of civilians. Israel carried out assassinations of top Iranian leaders and scientists, and nearly killed the lead official coordinating Iran’s diplomatic talks with the U.S. Many of these attacks killed innocent bystanders, including families that just happened to live near one of Israel’s targets.

Under heavy pressure from Israel’s Prime Minister Netanyahu, President Trump on June 21st launched U.S. airstrikes against Iranian nuclear sites without Congressional authorization. These airstrikes against Iran were an act of war, while there was no immediate threat to U.S. national security. There is no military solution to security concerns around Iran’s nuclear program. These strikes were illegal, unconstitutional, and counterproductive. 

Israeli officials have shown that this is not about Iran’s nuclear program, it is about sabotaging the possibility of diplomacy and a peaceful resolution with Iran. There was no imminent threat from Iran’s nuclear program. It is in fact a war of choice. 

Let’s be clear how we got here: President Donald Trump unilaterally withdrew from the Iran Deal (JCPOA) in 2018 which was working and limiting Iran’s nuclear program peacefully. The recent diplomatic efforts between the U.S. and Iran were making major progress and could have resolved Iran’s nuclear program effectively, transparently, and peacefully. 

The American people do not support or want a war with Iran. Only a diplomatic resolution will safeguard U.S. interests, reflect the will of the American people, prevent Iran from acquiring nuclear weapons, and avert a catastrophic and avoidable war. 

We are urging Members of Congress to condemn the unauthorized strikes on Iran, co-sponsor and vote for the War Powers Resolutions led by Sen. Tim Kaine (D-VA) – S.J.Res. 59 – and Reps. Thomas Massie (R-KY) and Ro Khanna (D-CA) – H.Con.Res. 38. Doing so is the only way for lawmakers to show that they stand with their constituents, for the Constitution, and for an end to all illegal and unauthorized offensive military attacks against Iran. 

See signatories

• 99 Coalition
• A New Policy
• ActionAid USA
• Action Corps
• Adalah Justice Project 
• Afghans For A Better Tomorrow
• Alliance of Baptists 
• Alliance of South Asians Taking Action (ASATA) Power
• American-Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee (ADC)
• American Friends Service Committee
• Arab American Civic Council
• Back from the Brink Coalition
• Beaver County (PA) Peace Links
• Brooklyn For Peace
• Ceasefire Now NJ
• Churches for Middle East Peace
• Cleveland Peace Action
• Coalition for Peace Action
• CODEPINK
• CommonDefense.us
• Council for a Livable World
• Dallas Peace and Justice Center
• Defending Rights & Dissent
• Delawareans for Palestinian Human Rights
• Demand Progress
• Doctors Against Genocide
• Freedom Forward
• Friends Committee on National Legislation
• Friends of Sabeel North America (FOSNA)
• Gen-Z for Change
• Hindus for Human Rights 
• Historians for Peace and Democracy
• Honor the Earth
• IfNotNow Movement
• Institute for Policy Studies, New Internationalism Project
• Jewish Voice for Peace Action
• Justice Democrats
• Just Foreign Policy
• MADRE
• MARUF-CT (Muslim Advocacy for Rights, Unity, and Fairness)
• Maryknoll Office for Global Concerns
• Migrant Roots Media
• Minnesota Peace Project
• MPower Change Action Fund 
• Muslim Counterpublics Lab
• Muslims for Just Futures 
• National Iranian American Council 
• National Priorities Project at the Institute for Policy Studies
• New York Progressive Action Network
• Our Revolution 
• Palestine Justice Network of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.)
• Pax Christi New York State
• Peace Action 
• Peace Action Maine
• Peace Action Michigan
• Peace Action New Hampshire 
• Peace Action New Jersey
• Peace Action New York State
• Peace Action North Carolina
• Peace and Justice Coalition of Prince Georges County MD
• Peace, Justice, Sustainability NOW!
• Physicians for Social Responsibility
• Physicians for Social Responsibility Los Angeles
• Physicians for Social Responsibility Maine
• Physicians for Social Responsibility Oregon 
• Physicians for Social Responsibility San Francisco Bay 
• Physicians for Social Responsibility Texas
• Progressive Democrats of America 
• Quincy Institute for Responsible Statecraft
• ReThinking Foreign Policy
• RootsAction 
• Sisters of Mercy of the Americas
• Unitarian Universalist Association
• United for Peace and Justice
• Veterans For Peace
• Western New York Peace Center
• Women for Weapons Trade Transparency
• World BEYOND War
• Yemen Relief and Reconstruction Foundation