On Thursday, August 29, CODEPINK LA, along with other peace activists, gathered outside Representative Julia Brownley's office to protest her support for genocide and oppression. The protesters delivered a clear message: it is neither acceptable nor feminist to support an apartheid regime by voting to send $14 billion in weapons to Israel and to suppress peaceful dissent through increased government surveillance and the weaponization of accusations of antisemitism against peace activists.
The activists criticized Rep. Brownley for failing the veterans she is supposed to serve by diverting billions of taxpayer dollars to Israel instead of addressing the housing and medical care crises faced by veterans.
The protest also highlighted Rep. Brownley's recent actions, including her signing of a letter to Secretary of State Antony Blinken condemning South Africa for filing genocide charges against Israel. This was despite the International Court of Justice (ICJ) ruling on January 26, 2024, that there is credible evidence of genocide being committed against the Palestinian people. On the same day, the Biden Administration cut funding to the United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA), leading to a famine in Gaza. Despite this, Rep. Brownley voted to suspend UNRWA funding through 2025 while falsely claiming to support humanitarian aid for Gaza.
The constituents called on Rep. Brownley to take immediate action by advocating for a permanent ceasefire in Gaza and an arms embargo against Israel. They also demanded that she sponsor legislation to restore UNRWA funding, joining other nations that have reinstated or increased their aid in response to the humanitarian crisis.
"We want Julia Brownley to get on the right side of history," said Rebecca Arvizu, one of the protest organizers. "No more weapons to Israel with our tax dollars. It's time to prioritize peace and justice."
Representative Julia Brownley of California has consistently positioned herself as a staunch supporter of Israel, a stance heavily influenced by the $168,179 she has received from AIPAC to fund her political campaigns. Her unwavering support for Israel has been demonstrated through her voting record and public statements, often at the expense of Palestinian lives. In October 2023, Brownley condemned what she called a "terrorist attack against Israel," asserting, "We must stand with Israel and the Israeli people and support them as they defend their security and safety." Yet, this rhetoric ignores the disproportionate impact of Israel's military actions on Palestinian civilians since 1948. As of August 2024, the death toll in Gaza is near 40,000, with nearly 16,500 of those being children. According to Lancet, it is projected that 180,000 Gazans will die as a result of the ongoing genocide.
Brownley's support for Israel extends to her legislative actions, such as voting to send $14 billion in weapons to Israel, directly fueling the ongoing violence in Gaza and the West Bank. Despite the International Court of Justice (ICJ) ruling in January 2024 that there is credible evidence of genocide being committed against the Palestinian people, Brownley signed a letter condemning South Africa for filing genocide charges against Israel. On the same day, she supported the Biden Administration's decision to cut funding to the United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA) while Gaza civilians are facing famine. Although Brownley falsely claims to support humanitarian aid for Gaza, she voted to suspend UNRWA funding through 2025, exacerbating the humanitarian crisis.
Despite mounting pressure from her constituents to advocate for a permanent ceasefire in Gaza, impose an arms embargo on Israel, and restore UNRWA funding, Brownley has remained aligned with Israel's interests. Her actions highlight a troubling disconnect between her stated values and the devastating consequences of her policies. By prioritizing AIPAC's agenda and the interests of a foreign government over the needs of her constituents and the lives of innocent Palestinians, Brownley continues to play a complicit role in the ongoing suffering and destruction in Gaza and the West Bank.
