Statement: Dwight Evans Must Change Policy to Bring a Ceasefire to Gaza
The Philadelphia CPUSA & YCL urge Rep. Evans to Cosponsor H.Res.786
On October 25, 2023 Rep. Cori Bush of Missouri introduced H.Res.786 which calls on President Biden to use his power to facilitate both an immediate ceasefire in Gaza and the entry of humanitarian assistance into Gaza. Today, 18 Democratic members of Congress have cosponsored the measure five months into Israel’s genocidal military campaign to collectively punish the Palestinian people of Gaza for the events of October 7, 2023. While thousands of Philadelphians through their labor unions, social justice organizations, and faith groups have mobilized for peace, Rep. Evans has regrettably failed to meet the urgency of this moment.
His office’s latest statement from Feb. 29 does not indicate that Rep. Evans will use his power to advance tangible policy changes. Rhetoric alone will not force Israel to end the genocide and humanitarian crisis in Gaza. If Dwight Evans would like his words to be taken seriously by his constituents, he must cosponsor H.Res.786. Every day Palestinians under the brutal Israeli blockade starve and every day the Israeli military commits new horrific massacres. Given these gross human rights violations, will Evans support enforcing the Leahy Law towards military aid transactions between the US and Israel? It is a shameful fact that American-made weapons are used by Israel to commit atrocities in Gaza.
Though this latest statement does not go far enough, we are emboldened knowing that it comes as a result of demonstrations, both those that directly called out Rep. Evans from our organization and others such as If Not Now, as well as the hundreds of mass mobilizations for peace taking place in our city and across the country. We must continue these demonstrations in order to advance the call for a ceasefire further. We call on all Philadelphians of conscience, to join us in a broad coalition to compel Dwight Evans to both cosponsor H.Res.786 and to hold the state of Israel accountable for the mass slaughter and starvation of Palestinian civilians in Gaza.
FREE PALESTINE! NO MORE MONEY FOR ISRAEL’S CRIMES!