US congressional aides launch site to allow free criticism of Gaza war

Jeddah - Yasmine El Tohamy - LONDON: A group of Washington staffers have launched a website to raise objections and criticisms of the US government’s stance on Gaza.

The site, known as the Congressional Dissent Channel, is designed so that individuals can speak freely and anonymously — including about colleagues, superiors and employers — without fear of retaliation, in a manner similar to a channel created by the US State Department to allow employees to voice dissent at their government, which was set up during the Vietnam War.

It has been established by aides who organized a walkout on Capitol Hill last week to protest the visit of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, during which he addressed Congress. The same group also set up a flower vigil outside the Capitol in November last year to demand a ceasefire in Gaza, the New York Times reported.

The group said it is comprised of “congressional aides dedicated to changing the paradigm of US support for the genocide against Palestinians in Gaza being carried out by the state of Israel.”

Congressional aides tend to keep low professional profiles and have little recourse to airing opinions that differ from those of their bosses, and can face dismissal for doing so.

Michael Suchecki, spokesman for the Congressional Progressive Staff Association, told the NYT that aides have a duty to raise alternative opinions, especially when they differ from representatives and are being put forward by voters.

“While we may work for and be employed by the United States Congress, our ultimate sworn oath is to the Constitution — to the people of the United States,” he said.

In the wake of the attack on the US Capitol by rioters on Jan. 6, 2021, attitudes began to change toward the culture in Washington, with several groups of aides joining together to form the Congressional Progressive Staff Association demanding safer working conditions. Less than a year later, aides from eight congressional offices began to put in place the framework to establish an official workers union.

In the wake of Israel’s invasion of Gaza, many aides have turned their attention to using the organizations and networks they have established to try to work for a ceasefire from Washington itself, including raising awareness of US arms shipments to Israel used in the campaign.

In a statement on the Congressional Dissent Channel’s webpage, staffers wrote: “We are living through a fraught moment in U.S. foreign policy, one in which American-made bombs — paid for by American tax dollars — are dropped on homes, schools and hospitals.

“Despite the evidence before our eyes, the voices advocating in Congress for the pragmatic and moral solutions that would uphold our treaty obligations and could broker peace are repeatedly sidelined, ignored and maligned.”

The site was launched on Sunday. By Monday morning, six memos from anonymous congressional aides had been published, with those wishing to contribute told to email memos to the channel’s inbox for content evaluation, author identification and publication by a member of the team. Anonymous videos can also be submitted.