November 4, 2009
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November 4, 2009
Dear CODEPINKer,
Thanks so much for your calls to Congress yesterday about that  terrible Resolution 867 rejecting the Goldstone report. Check us out at the office of Foreign Affairs Committee Chairman Howard Berman, where we had a chance to talk him TWICE (when he came in and out of his office). We pleaded with him to delay the vote until Judge Goldstone briefed Congress, which he refused to do. The only positive outcome of our discussions with  him-other than the fact that he saw how sincere and committed we were-is that he said he was willing to go to Gaza to see for himself. So we'll keep pressuring him, and other members of Congress, to go there.
 The vote was terrible: 344 Yes, 36 No, 22 present and 22 not voting. Check here to see how your member voted.
You can read the transcript can also read the transcript of the  floor discussion here. There were some valiant speeches-Dennis Kucinich, Brian Baird, Barbara Lee-countered by some really terrible ones.
The only consolation in the outrageous vote is that the vote on January 9, 2009, when Congress supported Israel's right to defense while it was dropping bombs on Gaza, was much worse: 390 yes, 5 no and 22 present. Today 46 fewer voted yes, 31 more voted No and 22 didn't vote. We are making slow headway--painfully slow. So keep the pressure on!
In the meantime, there is a group outside Congress that represents our values, and that is the group of over 500 people who have already signed up to join the Gaza Freedom March on December 31. Please endorse the march and make a donation for schools supplies. Let's counter the callousness of our Congress with our love and compassion for the children of Gaza.
Sincerely,
Medea Benjamin and the CODEPINK Team
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