The primary successes of JVPA endorsees proves Palestinian rights is a winning issue
Jewish Voice for Peace Action is thrilled to announce that its entire slate of incumbent endorsees have moved past their primary races!
When we launched JVP Action a year ago, we planned to defend the human rights champions already in office. We were committed to counter the anti-Palestinian groups trying to push elected officials out of office for standing up for Palestinian rights. This election year, organizations like Democratic Majority for Israel, NORPAC and AIPAC spent about $10 million dollars trying to keep that fear in place. But they failed.
The re-elections of Reps. Rashida Tlaib, Ilhan Omar, Betty Mccollum, Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, Pramila Jayapal and Mark Pocan make it very clear: It doesn’t matter how much money is thrown into defeating us, the fight for freedom for all people – no exceptions – is a winning issue.
“All six of JVPA’s endorsed incumbents know that there can be no exceptions to the fight for rights and dignity — including for Palestinians. And it is because of this — not in spite of it — that they are all returning to Congress next year. They’re going back with a simple mandate: Keep it up!”
Stefanie Fox, Executive Director of Jewish Voice for Peace Action
Over the past six months, JVPA supporters across the country especially showed up to defend Rashida Tlaib and Ilhan Omar, both of whom faced establishment challengers and racist, Islamophobic attacks. We hosted dozens of phone banks and called thousands of voters. With our candidates we held virtual Seders, online Shabbats and giant Zoom rallies.
Our most recent rally, for Rep. Omar earlier this week, gathered over 300 people to hear luminaries Naomi Klein, Keeanga-Yamahtta Taylor, Barbara Ransby, V (formerly Eve Ensler), and Angela Davis advocate for Ilhan’s re-election. In this moment of rising authoritarianism, but also of incredible movement-building, Ilhan embodies how we must fight back. As Angela Davis told us: “Ilhan Omar represents the very notion of citizenship to which we should all aspire: collective commitment to create more habitable futures for us all.”
“This election cycle, anti-Palestinian groups spent millions on racist and Islamophobic fear-mongering trying to defeat champions of Palestinian rights. But their tired tactics are failing – and the Palestinian rights movement is celebrating the defense of our incumbent champions. This is how change happens.”
Beth Miller, Government Affairs Manager for Jewish Voice for Peace Action
Fox and Miller are available to speak with the media