Gaza is the moral issue of our time. We’ve seen the destruction of every single university & hospital, the demolition of 90% of residential neighborhoods, the forced starvation & slaughter of innocents, and the deliberate targeting of journalists & emergency responders. Our leaders in office enthusiastically fund this moral atrocity while giving the smallest, most meaningless words of concern for the Palestinian people. This undeniable genocide is only allowed to happen because of the financial and military support of the United States.

Like anyone with a heart who has been paying attention, I wanted to do something to stop what is happening in Gaza. Over the last 2 years, I joined protests with tens of thousands of other people in downtown Chicago, I called & wrote to my representatives, and I posted online to raise awareness. Unfortunately, none of this has led to any change in Congress. I’ve come to the understanding that the only way I could enact change in this case was to hold a position of power myself.

One Congressman’s vote may not be enough by itself but my election to office will enable the growing faction of anti-war candidates to band together to block U.S. bombs, weapons, and taxpayer dollars from being used to commit war crimes. We must build a voting bloc that is able to stop these atrocities from continuing in our name.

In order for their to be justice, the Palestinians must be provided the right of return to the land & homes that have been stolen from them. They must be provided complete equality under the law and the human rights abuses must end.

Gaza is the litmus test for all politicians & candidates. If they cannot say this is a genocide or sign onto the Block the Bombs Act, they have no place representing the American people.