Press Release: 1400+ MA Voters push DNC Delegates to endorse “Not Another Bomb” campaign for Arms Embargo
For Immediate Release: August 12, 2024
Contact for Massachusetts Vote “No Preference” Coalition:
Lara Jirmanus, Votenopreferencema@gmail.com
Instagram: @votenopreferencema Twitter: @NoPreferenceMA
Website: www.votenopreferencema.org
1400+ MA Voters push DNC Delegates to endorse “Not Another Bomb” campaign for Arms Embargo
“We need more than words” from Harris-Walz
Boston, MA - In the lead up to the Democratic National Convention in Chicago, the Massachusetts Vote No Preference campaign has collected signatures from over 1400 voters urging our state’s DNC delegates to be “Ceasefire Delegates” and endorse an arms embargo. The letter, released earlier today, calls on Democratic Party leadership to demonstrate its commitment to broker an immediate and permanent ceasefire in Gaza by leveraging its weapons shipments, in alliance with the national Not Another Bomb campaign, pressuring Vice President Harris for an arms embargo against Israel.
The coalition will host a virtual press conference on Tuesday, August 13 at 10AM via Zoom to announce the petition: Watch Here
“Vice President Harris is missing a key opportunity to acknowledge that our tax dollars have been spent on killing children, and advocate instead that the party must pivot to address the concerns of ordinary Americans: soaring food costs, a lack of affordable housing, a healthcare crisis, racial equality, workers’ rights, and a sustainable future,” the group wrote in the letter. “In this year alone, our government sent over $21 billion in unconditional military aid to Israel in 2024, the second-highest level of U.S. military aid ever provided to Israel.”
A recent poll shows that 86% of Democrats, and 2 out of 3 American voters support a permanent ceasefire in Gaza and 70% of Democrats believe that the U.S. should condition military aid to Israel on its compliance with international law. A majority of US voters oppose additional US military aid to Israel, including 62% of voters who supported Biden in the last election. Organizers highlighted that US weapons have been used to commit massacre after massacre, making Biden and Harris stated support for ceasefire difficult to believe. Recent events underscore the necessity for an arms embargo, as an Israeli airstrike killed 100 in a school bombing just hours after the White House greenlighted $3.5 billion more in military aid.
Eli Gerzon is a Jewish community activist with Boston DSA, Arlington for Palestine and press conference speaker; they said, "Over half of the Jewish people in the Democratic party have wanted a ceasefire for months. It's horrifying how Jews have been used by our politicians as an excuse to perpetuate a genocide. 'Never again' is now. And Biden, Harris, and Walz calling for an arms embargo is the only way to end this genocide."
“The call for a permanent ceasefire in the American labor movement is strong and growing. American workers want our tax dollars spent on life-affirming programs at home, like education and healthcare, not on genocide,” said Merrie Najimy, member of the Massachusetts Teachers Association Rank and File for Palestine independent member network, and press conference speaker. “Rank and file educators are united in demanding an end to the genocide and scholasticide being conducted by Israel. With pressure from rank and file educators of the MTA and the NEA, our education unison are calling for ceasefire, arms embargo and the protection of academic freedom in the US.”
The Vote No Preference campaign is the Massachusetts chapter of the national Uncommitted/“Not Another Bomb” movement and unites peace groups across the Commonwealth. In March, the Massachusetts coalition energized over 60,000 voters to use the primary ballots to pressure the Biden-Harris administration for a permanent and immediate ceasefire, by voting “No Preference” in the MA presidential primary. As the Not Another Bomb campaign has concluded, “It’s crystal clear. In order to achieve a ceasefire in Gaza, the US must stop arming Israel,” urging elected officials to“ Fund schools, not weapons” and “Fund housing, not genocide.”
Press Conference Speakers will include:
MC: Dr. Lara Jirmanus, Vote No Preference Coalition, Boston Shai House and Massachusetts Healthcare Workers for Palestine
Dr. Karameh Kuemmerle, Pediatric Neurologist in Boston, Massachusetts Healthcare Workers for Palestine
David Seaton, Host of Pod Save the Youth and DNC Delegate
Eli Gerzon, Boston DSA, Jewish Voice for Peace Action Local Leader, Arlington for Palestine and Jewish community organizer
Willie Burnley, Jr. Somerville City Councilor
Merrie Najimy, Massachusetts Teachers Association Rank and File for Palestine, an independent member network representing their own views
Massachusetts DNC Delegate and signatory of the national Not another Bomb Ceasefire Delegates Letter
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Vote “No Preference”/Not another Bomb Massachusetts is a rapidly growing coalition across the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, including Somerville for Palestine, Cape Cod DSA, Massachusetts Peace Action, Massachusetts Muslims for Justice, Progressive Democrats of America, Massachusetts Healthcare Workers for Palestine, Arlington for Palestine, Vote Ceasefire MA, Boston Shai House, Smith Students for Justice in Palestine, JP for Palestine, CD8 for Palestine, Boston DSA, and Healthcare Workers for Palestine New England