100 organizations backed Tuesday’s nationwide mobilization calling on lawmakers to cut funding for the unauthorized war on Iran, investigate civilian deaths, and pursue diplomacy.
WASHINGTON, DC – On Tuesday, October 20, Americans rallied at more than 35 congressional offices nationwide, demanding that lawmakers take immediate action to end the unauthorized U.S. war on Iran. Just two weeks before the midterm elections, Iranian Americans, veterans, military families, faith communities, and local constituents mobilized with a clear message: Congress must stop funding this war.
The National Iranian American Council (NIAC), Action Corps, Common Defense, and 100 organizations called for the day of action. Rallies were organized in front of U.S. House and Senate offices across the country, including in California, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Maine, Massachusetts, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Wisconsin, and Washington State.
Demonstrators called on Congress to block further war funding, enforce congressional war powers, demand investigations into U.S. strikes on civilians in Iran – including the Minab elementary school and the Kuhestak wedding – and support a diplomatic agreement to end the conflict.
“Criticism of the war with Iran is welcome, but right now it is not enough from our elected leaders to stop this from becoming another forever war,” said Etan Mabourakh, Senior Advisor for Organizing at NIAC. “We need leaders who will show a real commitment to ending it. That means blocking all funding for the war, enforcing the Constitution, investigating war crimes, and supporting a peace deal.”
“This unauthorized war has killed schoolchildren and American service members, destroyed civilian neighborhoods, and caused energy prices to skyrocket,” said Isaac Evans-Frantz, Executive Director of Action Corps. “Everyday Americans and Iranians alike are paying the price for a war Congress has the power to end.”
Joshua Lucas, a U.S. Marine Corps veteran and member of Common Defense, condemned the war and called on congressional leadership to take immediate action.
“As a Marine Corps veteran who served in the wake of 9/11, I reject the lie that this war will make Americans safer or Iranians more free. We call on Democratic leadership to enforce their constitutional war powers authority, cut off funding for this immoral war, investigate war crimes committed by this administration, and immediately seek a lasting peace deal with Iran. We need to be ending forever wars, certainly not stumbling and bumbling into new ones.”
With Congress expected to consider government funding legislation following the November elections, organizers emphasized that lawmakers cannot claim to oppose the war while continuing to fund it. Tuesday’s demonstrations mark a nationwide effort to translate growing opposition into concrete congressional action.
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MEDIA CONTACTS
NIAC: Etan Mabourakh — emabourakh [at] niacouncil.org
Action Corps: Sapana Thomas — sapana [at] actioncorps.org