A week ago, our hearts were broken by the photo of a little boy, drowned, lying alone in the sand.
But new images of people with open arms welcoming exhausted Syrian refugees the world over have begun to put our hearts back together.1 The profound decency of ordinary folks is driving governments to respond to this crisis.2
Now it's America's turn to act.
On Thursday, President Obama said he would allow 10,000 Syrian refugees to enter the United States.3 It's a step in the right direction, but it's a tiny fraction of what's needed. In fact, that number is 1/80th the number welcomed by Germany, a country far smaller than the U.S.4, 5
That's why MoveOn members and our friends are launching AmericaWelcomes, an urgent national campaign to raise the number of Syrian refugees admitted into the U.S. to at least 100,000 and to encourage people in local communities across the country to open their hearts and extend a welcome.
It's easy. Once you click, there's a big button at the top of the page that says, "Add your own photo here." It will have all the information and resources you need.
We'll make sure these pictures reach President Obama, the U.S. State Department, and the national press, making it unmistakably clear that Americans stand ready to embrace refugees and that we demand solutions to this crisis that are humane, dignified, and worthy of our shared human values.
We're partnering with tremendous allies, including Refugee Council USA and USA for UNHCR (the United Nation's refugee agency), to show that Americans in every city and town across the country are awake to the plight of Syrian and other refugees fleeing and that we are ready to do more to help.
On Wednesday, Secretary of State John Kerry indicated that President Obama wants to "do what we can" to increase the number of Syrians welcome in the United States.6
This is not a moment for our country to do only "what we can." This is a moment for everyone to do what we must—in Washington, D.C. and in our local communities.
Will you take five minutes today to take a photo that could help make a difference in the lives of tens of thousands of people?
MoveOn members have already responded to the Syrian refugee crisis by donating $220,000 to UNHCR. But as this crisis intensifies, it's clear that we are called to do more. We must not turn our backs on families fleeing the horrors of war and devastation. In partnership with great groups like Welcoming America, we must demonstrate that we are committed to building a nation that truly welcomes and sustains migrants and refugees from around the world.
It begins now with your photo and with your heartfelt message of welcome.
Thanks for all you do.
–Jo, Mark, Stephen, Jadzia, and the rest of the team
Sources:
1. "We walk together: a Syrian family's journey to the heart of Europe," The Guardian, September 10, 2015
http://www.moveon.org/r?r=307096&id=132066-10220574-cFNDP_x&t=5
3. "Obama calls on US to resettle 'at least 10,000 Syrian refugees' in 2016 fiscal year," The Guardian, September 10, 2015
http://www.moveon.org/r?r=307092&id=132066-10220574-cFNDP_x&t=8
http://www.moveon.org/r?r=307090&id=132066-10220574-cFNDP_x&t=9
5. "Syrian refugees: Which countries welcome them, which ones don't," CNN, September 10, 2015
http://www.moveon.org/r?r=307086&id=132066-10220574-cFNDP_x&t=10
6. "Kerry: U.S. committed to accepting more Syrian refugees," CNN, September 9, 2015
http://www.moveon.org/r?r=307091&id=132066-10220574-cFNDP_x&t=11
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