The situation in Syria is dire with 100,000 dead, over 2 million having fled the country (half of them children), and 4.25 million internally displaced.

V-Day calls on you, our community, to rise and make our voices heard against military intervention, as such an action would simply bring about more violence and suffering.

Today, we call on the U.S. to uphold the unconditional right of the Syrian people to self-determination, and we call on the world to oppose any U.S. military intervention in Syria. Experience shows us that military interventions harm innocent women, men, and children.  Time and again we have seen how violence against women greatly increases in times of military conflict.  We have seen how U.S. interventions in the past have led to more deaths and human rights violations against innocent people, and how aggression has not been a solution for conflict or restoration of security. We have seen how U.S. militarism wreaks havoc, killing and maiming local populations and leaving behind lasting problems.  For example, we just received an update from Iraqi activist Yanar Mohammed stating that the Iraqi people are suing the U.S. government for white phosphorous that destroyed the limbs and minds of hundreds of their babies.  How can we believe a U.S. military intervention will put an end to the use of chemical weapons when the U.S. is not taking accountability, responsibility, and ownership for its own use of chemicals? How can we, as a world community, be expected to accept this hypocrisy and double standard? Wadah Khanfar wrote in The Guardian on 2 September that “…a wide section of Islamic-linked Syrian revolutionaries will never welcome any major role for the US in the country’s future.”

We call on President Barack Obama and members of the U.S. Congress to vote NO on a limited military intervention in Syria.

Polls show that the majority of Americans are opposed to military intervention >

“Bombs are not signals. They aren’t poems. They don’t deliver messages. They have never been discreet or narrow or limited. They kill people they maim them and terrorize them. And eventually piss them off. Even if you launch them from so far away you can’t smell their flesh burn. Bombs are not signals. They aren’t poems and you don’t get to use them in my name. Not in my name.  Or the name of the people of this country. No war on Syria.  No bombs. No strikes.” Eve Ensler speaking Sunday, August 31st, Times Square anti-war protest, NYC.

Demonstrations took place on Sunday across the world, in which V-Day activists participated.  Founder Eve Ensler demonstrated in NYC and One Billion Rising Director Monique Wilson participated in a demonstration in London.

READ & WATCH: “Syria strike talk sparks rallies, protests” (USA Today) >

TAKE ACTION:

• DEMONSTRATE against U.S. military intervention.  Find demonstrations and ways to speak out in your community or create your own demonstration.
• CONTACT your Congress people in the U.S. and let them know you are against military intervention >
• WRITE to President Barack Obama – Code Pink has drafted a letter to be sent directly to the President >

• SUPPORT our partner, the Al Madad Foundation, which is working with Syrian refugees on the Lebanese border. Al Madad’s Emergency Aid relief initiative for Syrian refugees in Lebanon is focusing on disadvantaged and vulnerable unregistered refugees. As Aya Haidar, Excutive Director, states  “The vast majority of refugees are women and children. 90% of all dealings are with mothers and women in the household, who are usually primary care holders, to discuss with them what it is they need for their household. They are the ones who determine what they are missing and how we can accommodate them and their families. The goods purchased are specific to their needs at the time of encounter.”   Al Madad Foundation does not have political affiliations with groups or factions. Every penny from your donation will go towards refugees’ needs on the ground. To support the Al Madad Foundation, donate >