MEDIA ADVISORY FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Etan Mabourakh – Organizing Manager, NIAC Action
[email protected] |
End Democratic Complicity: Force the Vote, Stop the War
Press Conference on Democratic Leadership’s Failure to Force a Vote on the Iran War Powers Resolution
WHAT: Despite having an historic opportunity to pass the Iran War Powers Resolution, House Democratic leadership refused to bring it to the floor for a vote before recess — a dangerous act of political negligence that continues to leave the illegal U.S.-Israel war on Iran unchecked, further threatens the global economy and continues to put American service members and innocent civilians at risk. Our community will not accept political cowardice.
NIAC Action New York is organizing a press conference outside Democratic district offices in New York to call out this failure of leadership and demand accountability. Together, we must remind Congress of its constitutional duty to debate, vote and take every action in its power on critical matters of war and peace.
WHEN: Thursday, April 9, 2026 – 11:00 AM ET
WHERE: Rep. Hakeem Jeffries District Office — 55 Hanson Place, Brooklyn, NY 11217
WHO: Speakers from endorsing organizations and local constituents of Representatives Hakeem Jeffries and Gregory Meeks, the lead sponsor of the Iran War Powers Resolution, have been confirmed to participate.
Endorsing Organizations:
Afghans For A Better Tomorrow
Brooklyn for Peace
The Community Church of New York Unitarian Universalist
Democracy for the Arab World Now (DAWN)
Doctors Against Genocide
The Fellowship of Reconciliation (FOR)
The Iran Circle, Inc.
Just Foreign Policy
Long Island Alliance for Peaceful Alternatives
National Iranian American Council (NIAC) Action – New York Chapter
New York Progressive Action Network (NYPAN)
North Country Peace Group
NYC Metro Raging Grannies
NY-8 Neighbors for a Gaza Ceasefire
Pax Christ New York State
Painters & Allied Trades District Council 4 (IUPAT)
Peace Action of Staten Island
Peace Action New York State
Presbytery of New York City
Project Hajra
RootsAction
Syracuse Peace Council
The Riverside Church in the City of New York
Veterans For Peace
World BEYOND War
QUOTES From Endorsing Organizations:
“Inaction from House Democratic leadership is complicity. Every day they delay accountability for war crimes, opposition to $200 billion of additional taxpayer funding, and a vote on the Iran War Powers Resolution, more families pay the price for this illegal war. Our Iranian American community will not let Democrats repeat previous mistakes out of political fear. New Yorkers are done accepting cowardice as strategy — we demand leaders with the courage to act boldly and take votes in the House to stop this war now.” — Etan Mabourakh, Organizing Manager, NIAC Action
“This is no time to waver. We need our Democratic leaders to be firm and unequivocal in demanding an immediate end to this tragic war.” – Carolyn Eisenberg, Co-Vice-Chair of Brooklyn for Peace
“There is a lesson to be learned from the Iraq War. In 2003, Congress failed to stand up to President George W. Bush who was pushing for Congress to support a war of choice against Iraq. And Congress went along except for a courageous few. Now is the moment for Congress to show that it has learned its lesson. The last 23 years of endless wars have harmed millions of innocents and spent trillions of dollars that should have gone to real human needs.”– Sally Jones, Peace Action of Staten Island
“‘No to War and No to Islamic Republic’ is what the Iranian civil society and political prisoners are asking for. This war is destroying Iran and strengthening the authoritarian regime ideologically. We demand an immediate ceasefire and facilitation of a democratic transition and referendum in Iran through the UN.”– Amin Feizpour, The Iran Circle
“For twenty years, the U.S. fought a war that took the lives of tens of thousands of Afghans, killed American service people and cost American taxpayers almost 3 trillion dollars that replaced the Taliban with the Taliban. The war on Iran is illegal, unjust and will not liberate anyone. The war must end and Congress ought to do its job to bring it to an end immediately.”– Arash Azizzada, Afghans for a Better Tomorrow
“It is an unconscionable criminal dereliction of duty that House Democratic ‘leadership’ has failed to bring the Iran War Powers Resolution to the floor for a vote before recess—despite having the votes needed to pass it. Resulting in delaying a House vote until mid-April, and allowing continued U.S. involvement in unauthorized war. Stop the killing, stop wasting taxpayer money on foreign excursions. Bring the War money home to support human needs now.”– Bob Keilbach, Veterans for Peace
“As people of faith, we believe God calls us to be peacemakers, not passive witnesses to escalating violence. When Congress hesitates to vote on an Iran War Powers Resolution, it is not only a political failing—it is a moral one. The Riverside Church stands to remind our leaders that every delay risks precious lives, and that the work of peace cannot wait.”– Rev. Adrienne Thorne, The Riverside Church of New York
Note: The press conference will include remarks from speakers and constituents, followed by a Q&A period. Reporters are encouraged to record video and interviews on-site. Please contact [email protected] to confirm attendance.
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About National Iranian American Council (NIAC) Action – New York
NIAC Action is a grassroots, member-driven organization dedicated to advancing peace, diplomacy, and the Iranian-American community’s political voice. Learn more at www.niacouncil.org.
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