Take Action Now: Demand Congress End the Illegal War on Iran, Protect Civil Liberties, and Combat the Surge in Hate-Fueled Violence

As the United States escalates military action against Iran without a declaration of war or meaningful Congressional authorization, Muslim Public Affairs Council (MPAC) is calling on Americans to demand accountability from their elected representatives. The current crisis demands immediate Congressional action on three interconnected fronts: the legality of the war itself, the protection of American Muslims, Iranians, and Arabs from unconstitutional surveillance and targeting, and the urgent need to address a documented spike in anti-Muslim hate-fueled violence.

This campaign calls on Congress to act on the following:

1. War Powers — End the Unauthorized War on Iran The executive branch has initiated and expanded military hostilities against Iran without a formal declaration of war and without constitutionally required Congressional authorization. Under the War Powers Resolution of 1973 (50 U.S.C. § 1541 et seq.), Congress has both the authority and the obligation to reassert its role as the sole branch empowered to authorize sustained military conflict. Members of Congress must vote for War Powers Resolutions that force a debate, demand accountability, and bring this illegal war to an end.
2. Civil Liberties — Reject a Return to Post-9/11 Surveillance and Targeting History has shown us the devastating consequences of post-9/11-era policies: mass surveillance programs, warrantless monitoring, discriminatory watch lists, and the weaponization of law enforcement against Muslim, Arab, and immigrant communities. In the wake of the Iran conflict, there is serious and credible concern that the federal government will seek to expand these authorities once again — targeting American Muslims, Iranians, and Arabs based on religion, ethnicity, and national origin rather than individualized suspicion. Congress must proactively reject any expansion of unchecked surveillance or law enforcement powers that would revive these unconstitutional practices.
3. Combating Hate — Address the Documented Surge in Anti-Muslim Violence and Bigotry Anti-Muslim and anti-Arab hate crimes and incidents have surged in the current climate of fear and militarism. Congress must not be silent. Elected officials bear a responsibility to speak out, to fund community protection resources, to strengthen hate crime enforcement, and to reject the political rhetoric that emboldens those who target Muslim, Arab, Iranian, and South Asian communities.
This campaign calls on lawmakers to:

• Vote YES on War Powers Resolutions to end unauthorized and illegal military hostilities against Iran and reassert Congressional authority over matters of war and peace

• Reject any proposed legislation, executive action, or agency rulemaking that expands surveillance, profiling, or unchecked law enforcement authorities targeting American Muslims, Iranians, or Arabs

• Publicly condemn anti-Muslim, anti-Arab, and anti-Iranian hate and introduce or support concrete legislative measures to address the spike in hate-fueled violence and bigotry

• Uphold the Constitution, the War Powers Resolution, and the civil liberties protections that apply to all Americans regardless of faith, ethnicity, or national origin

Congress must not repeat the catastrophic failures of the post-9/11 era. Add your voice and urge your representatives to act now.