June 2025
Get in good trouble, necessary trouble, and help redeem the soul of America.Congressman John Lewis
UFPJ Member Organizations Condemn Illegal and Immoral U.S. Bombing of Iranian Nuclear Facilities
President Trump's decision to bomb Iran drew unequivocable condemnation across the UFPJ network. Veterans For Peace: "June 21, 2025 will be remembered as the day the U.S. once again chose war over diplomacy, unleashing consequences we may come to regret." Massachusetts Peace Action: "A war with Iran will be dangerous for all those involved and... endangers people across the region and American service members... deployed there." September 11th Families for Peaceful Tomorrows: "As relatives of those killed in the 9/11 terrorist attacks, [our members] have learned a great deal about trying to end terrorism with war. IT DOES NOT WORK." Campaign for Peace, Disarmament and Common Security: "The bombings were gross violations of international law. They undermine the Nuclear Nonproliferation Treaty and the increasingly fragile post WWII United Nations charter." Institute for Policy Studies: "We need to demand that the U.S. government pulls back its military, pursues diplomacy, and respects international law, human rights and equality for all."UFPJ member organizations joined scores of civil society organizations demanding Congressional action to end all illegal and unauthorized offensive military attacks against Iran.
The United States Expands its Role in Israel's Wars: UFPJ Iran war resources
With its attack on Iran, the Trump government has expanded the U.S. role in the Netanyahu government's quest to dominate the Middle East by force of arms. Their campaign against Iran, represented as necessary to prevent nuclear weapons development, had broader goals to weaken and destabilize the Iranian government. This massive assault, which included attacks on civilian infrastructure and on apartment blocks as U.S. and Israeli strikes sought to kill Iranian scientists and the top echelons of its military establishment, likely would be considered illegal by most international law experts. It also runs contrary to the Congressional war power, albeit an authority weakened by the War Powers Act and a long history of Congressional avoidance of its responsibilities. UFPJ has added an Iran War section to its Israel/Palestine War Resources Page (scroll down on the page).
Webinar Recording: Emergency Briefing -- "No War On Iran"
An emergency briefing "No War On Iran,"on June 18, just days before the U.S. bombed Iran did not prevent U.S. military action, but the experts' analysis of the issues at stake and the path to a stable international agreement are well worth listening to as the international community seeks peace, disarmament and security for all in Iran and throughout the Middle East. The webinar, moderated by Yasmine Taeb, of MPower Change, included Trita Parsi, an Iranian-born writer, activist, and executive vice president of the Quincy Institute for Responsible Statecraft; Ryan Costello, Policy Director at the National Iranian American Council, and Omar Baddar, a Palestinian American progressive political analyst, member of the National Policy Council of the Arab American Institute, and human rights advocate. WATCH HERE.
The Humanitarian Crisis in Gaza and the West Bank Deepens, but Global Resistance is Growing: UFPJ Israel-Gaza War Resources
While news media attention shifted to the joint U.S.-Israel attack on Iran, Israel's government and West Bank settlers continue their efforts to expel Palestinians from their lands and homes. A new Freedom Flotilla aid mission attempted to reach Gaza, but was seized by Israel's military, its activists arrested and deported. On land, the Global March to Gaza was harassed and forcibly turned back by the Egyptian government. In the Netherlands, over 150,000 marched to demand their government do more to stop Israel's war on Gaza. Over 100 European and international organizations joined in a statement demanding the EU find Israel out of compliance with the EU-Israel Association Agreement for violations of its human rights provisions. Find these and more resources on the UFPJ Israel-Gaza War resources page.
Image: Rousseau Diderot, CC BY 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
No Kings Day Wrap Up -- What's Next?
The June 14 "No Kings Day"was the single largest protest of the second Trump administration, with over five million people participating in over 2000 separate mobilizations around the country and the world. You can see photos from all 50 states here. At the flagship rally in Philadelphia, Rev. William J. Barber II, the keynote speaker, powerfully exhorted a crowd of over 100,000 that Trump won't be King, unless we bow. Watch the video and read more. On June 16, a debrief Zoom, hosted by Ash-Lee Henderson, former Executive Director of the Highlander Center, attracted over 27,000 participants, while thousands more streamed across platforms. Watch the recording, find action resources, and learn what's next here. (Hint: Get ready to make "Good Trouble"on July 17!)
July 17: Across America, Let's Make Good Trouble!
Ready to hit the streets again? Be a part of the next mass mobilization on July 17 with Good Trouble Lives On. We are facing the most brazen rollback of civil rights in generations. Whether you're outraged by attacks on voting rights, the gutting of essential services, disappearances of our neighbors, or the assault on free speech and our right to protest, this day is for you. Good Trouble Lives On is a national day of nonviolent action to respond to the attacks posed on our civil and human rights by the Trump administration. On July 17, the anniversary of Congressman John Lewis' passing, we're taking action across the country to defend our democracy and carry forward his legacy. As Congressman Lewis declared, "Get in good trouble, necessary trouble, and help redeem the soul of America." Join an informational call on July 3, or July 10.
U.S. Mayors Renew Their Call for the U.S. to Lead the World Back From the Nuclear Brink
On June 22, the day after the U.S. bombed Iran's nuclear technology infrastructure, at the close of its Annual Meeting in Tampa, Florida, the final business plenary of the U.S. Conference of Mayors (USCM) unanimously adopted a timely new resolution, "Urging the United States to Lead the World Back From the Brink of Nuclear War and Halt and Reverse the Nuclear Arms Race." This is the twentieth consecutive year that the USCM has adopted strong nuclear disarmament resolutions submitted by U.S. members of Mayors for Peace. The USCM is the official nonpartisan association of more than 1,400 American cities with populations over 30,000. Resolutions adopted at its annual meetings become USCM official policy that guide the organization's advocacy efforts for the coming year. Read more. Learn how you can support Mayors for Peace here.
Mayors for Peace Issues Joint Appeal for Peace and Diplomacy
On June 27, 2025, The Mayors of Hiroshima and Nagasaki issued a Joint Appeal on behalf of Mayors for Peace. Characterizing the global situation as "in crisis,"they write, "the Russian invasion of Ukraine and the worsening situation in the Middle East... . have significantly increased the risk of catastrophic consequences for civilians, entire regions, and the world at large. In this milestone 80th year since the end of World War II and the first use of atomic bombs in human history, cities and citizens continue to be affected by military attacks despite ongoing diplomatic efforts to achieve peaceful resolutions to conflicts. The use of force against any country, which results in the loss of innocent civilian lives, is totally unacceptable."Read the Joint Appeal.
Photo: Mayors for Peace President Matsui (R) and Vice President Suzuki (L)
First They Bombed New Mexico
August 6 and 9, 2025 will mark the 80th anniversaries of the U.S. atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki. But before the U.S. bombed Hiroshima, on July 16, 1945, it bombed New Mexico, conducting the very first test explosion of a nuclear weapon at the White Sands Proving Ground, as part of the Manhattan Project. The test was of a plutonium bomb, of the same design as the Fat Man bomb detonated over Nagasaki. The U.S. government for decades claimed that the test bomb was detonated in an uninhabited area, but hundreds of thousands of people were exposed to radioactive fallout. On July 16, a permanent sign that recognizes the sacrifice and suffering of the Downwinders of New Mexico will take place at the Stallion Gate Entrance to the Trinity Site, to be followed by a candlelight vigil, which will be livestreamed. Check here for updates. Read more.
This Is Our Time To Stand: Rev. William J. Barber II Reflects on Militarism and the War Economy
Bishop William J. Barber II, National Co-Chair of the Poor People's Campaign: A National Call for Moral Revival, talks about the bi-partisan love of money and support for U.S. wars and militarism at the expense of serving human needs. "If you can blow up the world 100 times, why do you keep adding to it?"he asks. Rev. Barber reflects on Dr. King's assessment that war, poverty and racism are triple evils. He notes that there are five interlocking injustices that challenge us today: systemic racism; systemic poverty; ecological devastation and the denial of health care; the war economy and the militarization of our communities; and the false moral narrative of religious nationalism. Those five interlocking injustices, he says, require us to build a moral fusion movement, because we are in a crisis of civilization itself. Watch here.
9/11 Case at Guantanamo is Again Without a Presiding Judge -- but the Judge who Retired Issued a Momentous Ruling Before His Departure
On June 1, Air Force Colonel Matthew McCall, the fourth judge to preside in the 9/11 case retired. His final significant ruling in the pre-hearings, dealt a severe blow to the prosecution. McCall suppressed the confessions of defendant Ammar al Baluchi to an FBI "clean team"because of his torture by the CIA. The suppression issue has been central to the 9/11 case from its beginning, because all the 9/11 defendants were tortured in CIA "black sites."So, what now are the prospects for justice and accountability for the crimes of 9/11? The prosecution is appealing Judge McCall's suppression ruling, but no qualified judge has agreed to take over the 9/11 case. With the 24th anniversary of the 9/11 attacks rapidly approaching, victim family members and the American nation just wait and wonder if there will ever be a verdict. READ MORE.
Trump's Short Attention Span Leaves Ukraine War to the Rest of the World: UFPJ Ukraine War Resources
At the NATO Summit in the Hague, Trump showed waning interest in efforts to end the Ukraine war, indicating that he now sees it as mainly Europe's problem to resolve. The European governments are stepping up their military aid while the Russian government is stepping up its bellicose rhetoric, with President Putin, in a major address, saying that "the Russian and Ukrainian people are one nation"and "wherever a Russian soldier steps, it is ours."At the latest round of talks, the Russian position was unchanged, demanding international recognition of territories seized by force of arms and that Ukraine limit its armed forces and join no military alliances. Anatol Lieven proposes a more balanced set of peace terms, but there is little sign of interest as the Russian military intensifies its summer offensive. Find more resources here.
Webinar Recording: "Golden Dome": A Costly, Destabilizing, and Ineffective Missile Defense System
In May 2025, Donald Trump approved the Defense Department's architecture and implementation plan for "Golden Dome" -- a multilayered missile defense system incorporating ground-, sea-, and space-based components designed to protect all U.S. territory from any scale of missile attack by any country. In this June 23 webinar, hosted by the Physicists Coalition for Nuclear Threat Reduction, three physicists specializing in missile defense, Dr. Laura Grego, Dr. Fred Lamb, and Dr. Igor Moric, examined why the proposed system would be technically ineffective, carry projected costs in the hundreds of billions of dollars or more, and exacerbate global arms race dynamics. They also discussed how "Golden Dome"could heighten crisis instability and ultimately increase the risk of nuclear war. Watch the recording here.
The Power of the Pen
United for Peace & Justice was among 88 organizational signers on a letter endorsing Senator Kaine's Iran War Powers Resolution. We were among 57 organizational signers on a letter endorsing Representatives Khanna-Massie Bipartisan Iran War Powers Resolution. And we were among more than 75 progressive, civil and human rights, and foreign policy organizations condemning U.S. unauthorized strikes on Iran: "We are urging Members of Congress to condemn the unauthorized strikes on Iran, co-sponsor and vote for the War Powers Resolutions led by Sen. Tim Kaine (D-VA) - S.J. Res. 59 - and Reps. Thomas Massie (R-KY) and Ro Khanna (D-CA) - H. Con. Res. 38. Doing so is the only way for lawmakers to show that they stand with their constituents, for the Constitution, and for an end to all illegal and unauthorized offensive military attacks against Iran."
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