Urgent: Act Now Against Anti-Palestinian Amendments in Senate

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ADC (American-Arab Anti-Discrimation Committee) Needs You to Act Now!

In response to our last action alert thousands of you sent messages to the State Department and the President. Now, we need you to mobilize once again and get in touch with your Senators.

The Senate is now considering the Omnibus Appropriations bill which would determine appropriation until the end of the 2009 governmental fiscal year. Representatives will often take the opportunity to add amendments to this bill and others which appropriate billions of dollars, to bring funding back to their state.

Senator Jon Kyl (R-Ariz), however, took this opportunity to attack Palestinians. Several amendments offered by Senator Kyl target Palestinians and have nothing to do with his home state of Arizona. In S. Amd. 629 Senator Kyl wants the US to deny resettlement of Palestinian refugees from Gaza. Further, in S. Amd. 631, Senator Kyl wants to place restrictions on reconstruction aid to Gaza which could delay reconstruction efforts significant or even entirely.

It is despicable that Senator Kyl would attacks victims of one of the most destructive wars in recent history by denying reconstruction aid and denying refugees entry to the United States. Throughout its history the United States has been a safe haven for refugees from across the globe. Let the Senator know that his actions are not only Anti-Palestinian, they are Anti-American too!

Act now to contact your representatives and let them know you do not support this disgraceful targeting of Palestinians.

Please fill out the simple form below (link) to send a pre-written letter to your representatives and make sure to forward this message on.

http://capwiz.com/adc/issues/alert/?alertid=12855981

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From ADC

SUCCESS! Anti-Palestinian Amendments Fail

Thanks to your quick responses this weekend we were able to flood the offices on Capitol Hill with opposition to the anti-Palestinian amendments to the Omnibus Appropriations Act. It was clear your voice made a difference. High ranking Senate leaders spoke out in opposition to Senator Kyl's Amendments including the Chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee Sen. John Kerry and the Chairman of the Judiciary Committee Sen. Patrick Leahy.

In a passionate speech on the floor of the Senate yesterday opposing S. AMNDT. 629, which would have prevented Palestinians from Gaza from seeking refuge in the United States, Senator Leahy said "I have to think back -- I read about my family 150 years or so [ago] when they came to Vermont, on my father's side, the Irish. I'm sure if we had a law like this in place; it is questionable whether they could have come in. The Irish were fighting to keep their land. If they were fighting to keep their rights, fighting for the ability to vote, and they live[d] in what is now the republic of Ireland, they were considered terrorists."

S. AMNDT 629, the most egregious of Senator Kyl's amendment's, was withdrawn from consideration. Further, S. AMNDT 631 which would create further restrictions on the disbursement of reconstruction aid to Gaza failed by a vote of 39-56 with 4 not voting.

This is another example of how your quick and dedicated response can create real change on the floor of Congress. Keep up the good work!

Edited March 10, 2009 by Meriem_setif

[Nothing1234 2]

From ADC

SUCCESS! Anti-Palestinian Amendments Fail

Thanks to your quick responses this weekend we were able to flood the offices on Capitol Hill with opposition to the anti-Palestinian amendments to the Omnibus Appropriations Act. It was clear your voice made a difference. High ranking Senate leaders spoke out in opposition to Senator Kyl's Amendments including the Chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee Sen. John Kerry and the Chairman of the Judiciary Committee Sen. Patrick Leahy.

In a passionate speech on the floor of the Senate yesterday opposing S. AMNDT. 629, which would have prevented Palestinians from Gaza from seeking refuge in the United States, Senator Leahy said "I have to think back -- I read about my family 150 years or so [ago] when they came to Vermont, on my father's side, the Irish. I'm sure if we had a law like this in place; it is questionable whether they could have come in. The Irish were fighting to keep their land. If they were fighting to keep their rights, fighting for the ability to vote, and they live[d] in what is now the republic of Ireland, they were considered terrorists."

S. AMNDT 629, the most egregious of Senator Kyl's amendment's, was withdrawn from consideration. Further, S. AMNDT 631 which would create further restrictions on the disbursement of reconstruction aid to Gaza failed by a vote of 39-56 with 4 not voting.

This is another example of how your quick and dedicated response can create real change on the floor of Congress. Keep up the good work!

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