[pjw] Event: Town Hall on Iran with Rep. Earl Blumenauer Sat 6/15

[Peace and Justice Works]

Hello PJW supporters

The Iranian American Friendship Council has set up a town hall forum with 
Representative Earl Blumenauer this Saturday from 4-6 PM at First 
Unitarian Church. They are prioritizing the voices of the Iranian American 
community but all are welcome, and there will be a Q&A after the invited 
testimony.

Below is the AIFC's announcement and a few points about Blumenauer's track 
record helping the Iranian community.
dan handelman
peace and justice works iraq affinity group


---------- Forwarded message ----------
Date: Wed, 22 May 2019 22:22:46
From: "Goudarz Eghtedari
Subject: [aifcpdx] Town Hall with Congressman Earl Blumenauer on Iran

Congressman Blumenauer has always been a supporter of our community. In
these critical moments that threat of a war with catastrophic consequences
shadows over our birth country, we need to clearly express our opinion
about the outcome of such tragedy. Our Oregon representatives need to hear
it from us directly and personally so that they can present it to their
colleagues in the US Congress. Please join us with your questions and
stories!

*June 15th, 2019 4-6 PM *

*Eliot Chapel, First Unitarian Church, 1011 SW 12TH AVE, PORTLAND, OR.*

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yNUPB09gRuk

-------------------

*1.     **Blumenauer Town Hall*

*       Objectives

*       Bring awareness to the community about what as citizen we can do 
to influence the outcome

*       Provide a venue for Congressman to hear our stories, so that he
consider impact on us due to aggression and also allow him to share these
stories with his colleagues in the Congress.

*       Have a formal dialogue with our representative so that we can ask
questions and he can ask questions from us.

*       Put a human face on the sanctions and war on Iran.

*       Listening to human tragedies that sanctions and travel ban have
imposed on Iranian Americans.

Rep. Blumenauer has been really good on Iran for a long time. He's already
cosponsored legislation as we've asked of Members of Congress, including:

* Prevention of Unconstitutional War with Iran Act of 2019:
https://www.congress.gov/bill/116th-congress/house-bill/2354/cosponsors

* Levin-Massie bill to clarify that Congress has not provided 
authorizationfor the use of military force against Iran:
https://www.congress.gov/bill/116th-congress/house-bill/2829/cosponsors?q=%7B%22search%22%3A%5B%22Andy+levin%22%5D%7D&r=7&s=3


*       He has also cosponsored legislation to end the Muslim Ban:

* NO BAN Act:
https://www.congress.gov/bill/116th-congress/house-bill/2214/cosponsors?q=%7B%22search%22%3A%5B%22National+Origin-Based+Antidiscrimination+for+Nonimmigrants%22%5D%7D&r=1&s=1

* H.R. 810:
https://www.congress.gov/bill/116th-congress/house-bill/810/cosponsors

*       He has also signed a letter from Eshoo and Massie urging Chairman
Smith to ensure passage of provisions blocking a march to war as part of
the upcoming committee markup of the National Defense Authorization Act
(NDAA).

*      Last year, he also signed a letter from Rep. Huffman urging the
administration to ensure that sanctions do not block the flow of
humanitarian goods to the Iranian people, which the administration failed
to take seriously:
https://www.niacouncil.org/letter-pompeo-iran-sanctions-humanitarian-exemptions/
.