What can we do to support Syrian refugees—in addition to direct financial aid and heartfelt welcome messages?
We can give diplomacy a boost by supporting a congressional sign-on letter directed to President Obama which is being circulated by Representative Jim Himes (D-CT).1
Rep. Himes' letter calls for the president to use his authority to hasten international diplomatic negotiations to end the ongoing and brutal Syrian civil war and stabilize the country so that refugees can return home.
Representative Gregory Meeks has not yet signed on to Rep. Himes' letter to the president—and we need as many Democrats as possible to sign on to bolster Rep. Himes' request. Can you pick up the phone right now and ask Rep. Meeks to sign on before next Tuesday's deadline?
Here's where to call: Representative Gregory Meeks
Phone: (202) 225-3461
You can say: "Please sign on to Rep. Himes' letter to President Obama calling for international diplomatic negotiations to end the civil war in Syria."
Please report the details of your call here:
Rep. Himes' letter allows MoveOn members to—once again—demonstrate our stanch support for diplomacy as a mechanism for solving entrenched conflicts.
In a letter to his House colleagues encouraging their support of this sign-on letter, Rep. Himes writes that an "international agreement won't come easily, but it is in our best security and moral interests to lead the way."2
This is a moment to build on the historic Iran diplomacy breakthrough—which also didn't come easily.
Many in Congress predicted diplomacy with Iran would fail, claiming that an all-out war was the only way to achieve our objectives. Against all odds, MoveOn members worked for diplomacy and peace with Iran. We helped hard-nosed and tough negotiations prevail, yielding a solid deal that will prevent Iran from obtaining a nuclear weapon.
Now, with millions of Syrian lives at stake, it's time we step up again and join the outcry for international diplomacy to address the Syrian civil war.
Thanks for all you do.
–Jo, Milan, Ben W., Joan, and the rest of the team
P.S. Negotiations could provide a long-term solution to an entrenched and brutal Syrian civil war. But there's a great deal to do in the short-term to ease the suffering of millions of Syrian refugees. MoveOn members have donated more than $230,000 to the United Nations' refugee agency and have joined the call for the United States to raise the cap on the number of Syrians admitted into the U.S. See thousands of incredible welcome messages from MoveOn members and our allies by clicking here.
Sources:
1. "Rep. Himes' Letter to Support Syria Negotiations," Friends Committee on National Legislation, September 23, 2015
http://www.moveon.org/r?r=307494&id=132720-10220574-sVIPqqx&t=2
2. Ibid.
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This email was sent to eddie alfaro on September 25, 2015. To change your email address or update your contact info, click here. To remove yourself from this list, click here.
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