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We stand together against the rise of a new McCarthyism that is targeting peace activists, critics of US foreign policy, and Chinese Americans. Despite increased intimidation, we remain steadfast in our mission to foster peace and international solidarity, countering the narrative of militarism, hostility, and fear.
As the US government grapples with a major crisis of legitimacy, it has grown fearful of young people becoming conscious and organized to change the world. Influential media outlets like The New York Times have joined right-wing extremists in using intimidation tactics to silence these advocates for change, affecting not only the left but everyone who supports free speech and democratic rights.
The political and media establishments, both liberal and conservative, have initiated McCarthy-like attacks against individuals and organizations criticizing US foreign policy, labeling peace advocates as “Chinese or foreign agents.” This campaign uses innuendo and witch hunts, posing a threat to free speech and the right to dissent. We must oppose this trend.
Scientists, researchers, and service members of Chinese descent have been falsely accused of espionage and unregistered foreign agency, often with cases later collapsing due to insufficient evidence. Similar to the old “Red Scare” and McCarthy periods, when scores of organizations and leaders like W.E.B Du Bois, Eugene Debs, Emma Goldman, Paul Robeson and Martin Luther King Jr and others were attacked with fact-less accusations, today, prominent organizations and individuals, including CODEPINK, The People’s Forum, and Tricontinental Institute have been targeted, with smears and accusations propagated by outlets like The New York Times.
Their strategy paints a sinister image of a secret network funding the peace movement. However, there’s nothing illegal or fringe about opposing a New Cold War or a “major power conflict” with China, views shared by hundreds of millions globally. Receiving donations from US citizens who share these views is not illicit.
Media outlets have tried to scandalize funding sources of several organizations that are on the frontlines working with anti-racist, feminist, anti-war, abolitionist, climate justice, and other movements throughout the United States and globally. Meanwhile, when white neoliberal philanthropists flood the non-profit complex with significant funds to support their political agendas this is rarely scrutinized or made accountable to the communities they impact.
From The New York Times to Fox News, there’s a resurgence of the Red Scare that once shattered many lives and threatened movements for change and social justice. This attack isn’t only on the left but against everyone who exercises their free speech and democratic rights. We must firmly resist this racist, anti-communist witch hunt and remain committed to building an international peace movement. In the face of adversity, we say NO to xenophobic witch hunts and YES to peace.
Signed,
CODEPINK
The People’s Forum
Tricontinental Institute for Social Research
ANSWER Coalition
Anticapitalism for Artists
Defend Democracy in Brazil
Families for Freedom
Mulheres de Resistencia do Exterior
Nodutdol
NYC Jericho Movement
NYC Young Communist League
Pivot to Peace
Radical Elders
Abby Martin
Andy Hsaio
Ben Becker
Ben Norton
Bhaskar Sunkara
Brian Becker
Carl Messineo
Chris Hedges
Claudia de la Cruz
Corinna Mullen
David Harvey
Derek R. Ford
Doug Henwood
Eugene Puryear
Farida Alam
Fergie Chambers
Gail Walker
Geo Maher
Gerald Horne
Gloria La Riva
Hakim Adi
Heidi Boghosian
Immanuel Ness
James Early
Jeremy Kuzmarov
Jill Stein
Jim Garrison
Jodi Dean
Jodie Evans
Johanna Fernandez
Karen Ranucci
Kenneth Hammond
Koohan Paik-Mander
Lee Camp
Lisa Armstrong
Manolo de los Santos
Manu Karuka
Mara Verheyden-Hilliard
Matt Hoh
Matt Meyer
Matteo Capasso
Max Lesnik
Medea Benjamin
Michael Steven Smith
Nazia H. Kazi
Radhika Desai
Rania Khalek
Richard M Walden
Robin D.G. Kelley
Roger Waters
Roxanne Dunbar Ortiz
Ruth Wilson Gilmore
Salvatore Engel di-Mauro
Sheila Xiao
Stella Schnabel
Vijay Prashad
Vivian Weisman
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