October 20 Update

With the ongoing bombardment of Gaza, displacement of Palestinians, and the horrific bombing of Al Ahli hospital, it’s critically important we keep organizing and raising our voices to push for a ceasefire and an end to the Israeli occupation of Palestine. We have made some progress, and hope it encourages you to deepen your local commitments.

Important News:

• 3,600 healthcare workers have signed our statement of solidarity with Palestinians against genocide. Spread this news on social media and continue the conversations with your colleagues encouraging people to sign.

• The CEO of the Beth Israel Lahey Clinic addended their institution’s statement after multiple efforts calling for the acknowledgement and humanization of Palestinian lives lost and of health workers affected by the loss. Efforts engaged HR, GME, diversity offices, department heads, and others calling for the change which came yesterday 10/17. Let’s follow their example - when we do this together we change the culture of intimidation and censorship. Our institutions must learn that not only can they not erase Palestinians, they also cannot intimidate workers who stand with them. We will not be afraid anymore. Get in touch if you are planning similar institutional actions!

• Seven US Representatives have all released a statement calling for an immediate ceasefire, or at minimum, a temporary cessation of all hostilities in Israel & Gaza to save civilian lives. They are: Greg Casar (TX-35), Joaquin Castro (TX-20), Veronica Escobar (TX-16), Pramila Jayapal (WA-07), Barbara Lee (CA-12), James P. McGovern (MA-O2), and Jesús G. “Chuy” Garcia (IL-04). Shout out to healthcare workers from the  Texas & Washington districts who reached out to their House Representatives, citing the letter of support, to make this happen. We must continue pushing more representatives. We need them to sign onto the Cori Bush resolution for a ceasefire. Use this sample letter as a template to reach out to your representatives. Get in touch for support.

Action Items:

• If you are not connected with anyone in your local area and would like to be, please email us at healthcareworkerspalestine@gmail.com. 

• Call your Representatives and Senators in Congress and urge them to call for a ceasefire and a halt to all weapons sales and shipments to Israel. Ask your representatives to support the ceasefire resolution. 

• Deliver our statement in person to your members of congress if they have a local office nearby. Tell them healthcare workers are outraged at congressional support for Israeli violence. 

• Organize with colleagues in your institutions asking your leadership to:

  • publicly condemn the medical violence of the Israeli state 

  • contact Senators and Representatives calling for an immediate ceasefire, an end to displacement, and to stop funding this ongoing atrocity 

Ask to speak with leadership in person or write letters. Here is a letter template.  

• Choose a point person from your local groups to stay in contact with us. Together we can celebrate victories of resistance, share organizing strategies, and problem solve roadblocks. Email us at healthcareworkerspalestine@gmail.com. 

• There is a group of CIR members who want to push their members and CIR and SEIU at large to take a bolder stance against apartheid. Please be in touch if you are a CIR member and want to help with this. There have been calls to walk off work, and we need social movements to connect with labor if anything like this can be realized.

• We have not a done a good job connecting with nurses, please let us know if you are organizing nurses or non-physician health workers and trainees.

Keep the pressure on your institutions and members of Congress!

In solidarity,

Your fellow health workers