Government

RI coalition urges Senator Reed to support Sanders’ Yemen War Powers resolution

Over 20 Rhode Island elected leaders and organizations have signed onto a letter to United States Senator Jack Reed (Democrat, Rhode Island) encouraging him to vote for and publicly support Senator Sanders’s Yemen War Powers resolution (WPR) (S.J.Res.56), which is expected to be voted on later today (December 13).

Rhode Island News: RI coalition urges Senator Reed to support Sanders’ Yemen War Powers resolution

December 13, 2022, 10:38 am

By Steve Ahlquist

Over 20 Rhode Island elected leaders and organizations have signed onto a letter to United States Senator Jack Reed (Democrat, Rhode Island) encouraging him to vote for and publicly support Senator Sanders’s Yemen War Powers resolution (WPR) (S.J.Res.56), which is expected to be voted on later today.

We are grateful for your leadership on previous Yemen War Powers Resolutions. Supporting the pending WPR would increase the likelihood of a lasting regional peace agreement — and ensure accountability for a number of egregious acts undertaken by Saudi leadership over recent years,” reads the letter, which is signed by State Senators Jonathan Acosta, Kendra Anderson, Samuel Bell, Jeanine Calkin, and Tiara Mack, State Representatives(-elect) Megan Cotter, Cherie Cruz, Alana DiMario, Valerie Lawson, David Morales, Brandon Potter, Enrique Sanchez, and Jennifer Stewart, Providence City Councilmembers(-elect) Kat Kerwin, Justin Roias, Rachel Miller and Miguel Sanchez, and Democratic State Committeewoman Lauren Niedel.

According to the United Nations, on the order of 400,000 people have died as a consequence of the ongoing crisis in Yemen — and the lack of a long term settlement opens the door for Saudi Arabia to resume their bombing campaign at any moment and maintain a devastating blockade. These activities, in turn, increase popular support for the Houthi movement and perpetuate a cycle of violence that has led to one of the worst humanitarian crises in the world,” continues the letter, which is supported by the Columbus Cooperative, Demand Progress, Direct Action for Rights and Equality (D.A.R.E.), East Bay Citizens for Peace, Just Peace RI, No Endless War or Excessive Militarism, Pax Christi RI, Providence Friends Committee on National Legislation Advocacy Team, Reclaim RI and the Rhode Island Working Families Party.

This WPR would ensure that the United States does not participate in further hostilities by resuming logistics, maintenance, and spare parts assistance for the Saudi Royal Air Force’s offensive operations against the Houthis — support the United States has offered for much of the last eight years. This WPR is specifically crafted to not affect our defensive commitments to Saudi Arabia, nor our participation in counter-terrorism operations against AQAP.

In addition to helping create a context in which peace is more likely, this measure also provides the best opportunity to hold the Saudi government accountable for a variety of abhorrent acts undertaken over recent years — from siding with Vladimir Putin by manipulating global energy markets this fall, to assassinating Washington Post journalist Jamal Khashoggi,” concludes the letter. “Your support for this vital measure would help ensure its passage — because of the important vote you wield, and moreover as so many colleagues look to you for guidance on such matters.