June 11 Lobbying Day Materials Ready

If you ever needed proof that Members of Congress need to be educated about what is wrong with our country's policy of unconditional support for Israel's military occupation of Palestinian lands, then yesterday's vote in the House of Representatives on H.Con.Res.152 should provide you with all the evidence you need.

The resolution, which was passed by voice vote (meaning that there was no recorded vote of who supported and who opposed), "congratulates" Israel on marking 40 years of illegal military occupation of the Palestinian West Bank and Gaza Strip and the Syrian Golan Heights, and for its illegal annexation of East Jerusalem.

On Monday, June 11, hundreds of grassroots lobbyists from dozens of different states will take to Capitol Hill to educate our law-makers about what is wrong with our current policy toward Israel/Palestine and to suggest alternative policies other than unconditional support and aid for Israel 's military occupation and other human rights violations.

This grassroots lobbying day for Middle East peace is part of the historic June 10-11 mobilization in Washington , DC protesting 40 years of Israel 's illegal military occupation of the Palestinian West Bank, East Jerusalem , Gaza Strip, and the Syrian Golan Heights.  For more information on the weekend's events, which include a rally at the West Lawn of the Capitol, a march towards the White House, and a cultural event in the evening, click here.  It's not too late to make your plans to join us in Washington , DC this weekend and be a part of this historic mobilization!

We've prepared a lobbying day packet, which includes talking points and background information on some pieces of legislation that we are suggesting grassroots lobbyists raise with their Members of Congress.  To download a PDF version of the lobbying day packet, please click here.

We've also written an introductory letter to the lobbying day which explains why we selected a broad range of issues as suggested talking points to raise with your Members of Congress, and how you can use the suggested legislative items as entry points to have a broader discussion about Israel/Palestine policy concerns in these meetings.  If you plan to participate in the lobbying day, please read this important letter, which answers many questions we've received lately about the lobbying day, by clicking here. 

A current list of meetings scheduled, along with other meetings that grassroots lobbyists are working on setting up, is posted on our website.  To check the current schedule, please click here.

If you notice that there is incorrect information, or if you have scheduled a meeting that does not appear on the schedule, please contact Josh Ruebner at 202-332-0994 or congress@endtheoccupation.org.

There is still time to sign up for the lobbying day if you haven't done so already.  Please note that everyone who is participating in the lobbying day must sign up on-line by clicking here.

If you do not sign up, we cannot guarantee that you will receive a lobbying day packet at the lobby day training, which will be taking place at 8:30AM on Monday, June 11 at the Lutheran Church of the Reformation at 212 East Capitol Street .

If no one has requested a meeting yet with your Members of Congress, there is still time to do so.  For a step-by-step guide for how to set up meetings, please click here.

As you can imagine, we are extremely busy here in the office preparing for everything this weekend.  Before contacting us regarding the lobbying day, please view our FAQ's by clicking here and read the introductory letter by clicking here.  These pages should answer most of your questions regarding lobbying day.

For additional logistical and programmatic details for this weekend's historic mobilization against 40 years of Israeli occupation of the Palestinian West Bank, East Jerusalem and the Gaza Strip, please click here.

We'll see you in Washington , DC this weekend!