“The American People are Ahead of Congress”

Queens/Bronx Congressman Tells Community Leaders “The American People are Ahead of Congress” on Ending War in Iraq

Jackson Heights—On Thursday, April 12, eight community leaders met with Congressman Joseph Crowley (D-NY) to discuss the war in Iraq and holding President Bush and Vice-President Cheney accountable for violations of the Constitution and other crimes.

The delegation included members of a variety of organizations including Democrats.com, Progressive Democrats of America, Sunnyside-Woodside Peace, World Can’t Wait—Drive Out the Bush Regime and other community leaders.

They urged the Congressman to introduce legislation to pull all U.S. military personnel out of Iraq immediately and to impeach Bush and Cheney for war crimes.

“We want you and your colleagues in Congress to take a more aggressive stand,” Amanda Vender of World Can’t Wait told Congressman Crowley in the meeting. “This administration has committed so many crimes and done so much damage already. We feel the situation is urgent, that we cannot allow this regime to continue what it is doing. It must be held accountable for the war in Iraq, for torture and illegal spying.”

When it was pointed out that polls indicate that the American people and the Iraqi people want the U.S. out of Iraq, the Congressman responded, “The American people are ahead of Congress.”

“I’m for getting out of Iraq. I’m for getting our people out of harm’s way. I don’t trust this government and president. I won’t support a war with Iran,” Crowley told the delegation.

Yet Crowley also indicated a reluctance to take greater initiative and to act swiftly as the delegation urged. On impeachment, the Congressman said “This is something that has to be done with the consensus of the caucus. This president has a tendency to lie. The fact that they lie is going to hurt them. I think what we’re doing is in a responsible and thoughtful way.”

"Rep. Crowley is absolutely right that the people are ahead of Congress on ending this war,” said Jacob Levich, a member of the community delegation. “Our elected officials need to start representing us on this issue. That's why we elected them in the first place. And if they won't respond, we citizens need to find new ways of applying pressure."

ENDS

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