Lift the Sanctions Now – Stop Coronavirus

Lift the Sanctions Now – Stop Coronavirus

As the world reels from the COVID-19 pandemic, all nations must work together in the struggle to contain the outbreak. That’s why Massachusetts Peace Action is working with organizations across the state to demand an end to sanctions that hinder our ability to fight the virus. Together we ask you to:

1) Call your Senators and House Representative now at 202-224-3121.  We cannot achieve change without public pressure. 

Sen. Ed Markey (202-224-2742)

Sen. Elizabeth Warren (202-224-4543)

Find your Rep. here and call them at the Congressional Switchboard, 202-224-3121

Here’s what to say:

“Hi, my name is ____ and I’m calling from <town>. I’m extremely worried about the impact of U.S. sanctions on the ability of Iran, Venezuela, and other countries to fight the COVID-19 pandemic. I’m urging _____ to do 3 things.

  • Issue immediate statements via Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram condemning the sanctions against all these countries. Senator Bernie Sanders, Representative Ilhan Omar, and others have recently issued statements on Twitter condemning the Iran sanctions.
  • Sign on to Rep. Omar’s Congressional Oversight of Sanctions Act – H.R. 5879.
  • Initiate Congressional hearings on the impacts of sanctions by the first week of April.

“Can I count on ______ to take these actions? 

“When can I expect a reply from ______?”

2) Follow up with an email message to Congress and the Administration. Click here to send a message to your representatives, to the White House, and the Secretary of State. 

3) Attend our webinars on Thursday evenings for the next 4 weeks, which will explore the effects of sanctions on the coronavirus crisis Iran, Venezuela, Cuba, and North Korea.

March 26, 7pm: Iran – Dr. Shahin Tabatabaei of MGH and Jamal Abdi, executive director of National Iranian American Council (NIAC) Action. See more informationClick here to register and join the discussion.

April 2, 7pm: Venezuela – Prof. of Latin American History, Kevin Young (UMass Amherst) and Atenea Jiménez Lemon (National Network of Communes in Venezuela) .  See more information and Click here to register

April 9, 7pm: Cuba – Lee Schlenker – International Team member with Witness for Peace, based in Havana.  See more information and click here to register

April 16, 7pm: North Korea – Dr. Kee Park of Harvard Medical School.  See more information and click here to register.

U.S. sanctions against Iran, Venezuela, and Cuba prevent those countries from importing vital medicine and keep healthcare supplies from reaching their populations. Even before the COVID-19 pandemic, this has had devastating health impacts for people living under U.S. sanctions. As the UN reported last year, sanctions against Iran have “drastically constrained the ability of the country to finance humanitarian imports, including medicines, causing serious hardships for ordinary Iranians and threatening their right to health.” 

The U.S. government has not moved to lift or ease sanctions since the outbreak of COVID-19. In fact, the Trump administration is even treating the crisis as an opportunity and has announced that it will expand the sanctions. 

To get through this crisis we must stand for our brothers and sisters abroad the same way we would stand for our friends and neighbors.

Solidarity is the solution. Help us now to demand a change.

Thank you for continuing to fight. Get in touch with us at info@masspeaceaction.org or call us at 617-354-2169. We look forward to hearing from you. We can make these changes, but only if we work together!

Sponsored by Lift the Sanctions Mass:

  • Massachusetts Peace Action
  • Massachusetts Bolivia Solidarity Committee of Western Mass
  • Resistance Center for Peace and Justice
  • Latin America Solidarity Coaliton of Western Mass
  • Boston Democratic Socialists of America
  • American Friends Service Committee
  • Committee in Solidarity with the People of El Salvador
  • Campaign for Peace, Disarmament, and Common Security
  • National Iranian American Council (NIAC) Action