Michigan lawmakers introduce resolutions urging Congress to block arms to Israel and aid Gaza - Detroit Metro Times

Michigan lawmakers are pushing Congress to block U.S. arms transfers to Israel and increase humanitarian aid to Gaza, citing the escalating civilian death toll and its devastating impact on Palestinian families in Michigan.

Three state representatives - Dylan Wegela of Garden City, Alabas Farhat of Dearborn, and Erin Byrnes of Dearborn - have introduced House Resolution 223, urging their delegation to stop sending U.S. arms to Israel and restore visas for Palestinians seeking medical travel to Gaza.

Wegela described the Israeli government's actions as a "genocide" that is enabled by American-supplied weapons. He argued that Michigan taxpayers' contribution of over $420 million in military aid to Israel since 2023 could be better spent on pressing domestic issues such as rent assistance, groceries for low-income households and teacher salaries.

The resolution has been co-sponsored by 10 other Democrats and comes as the Israeli-Palestinian conflict continues to worsen. It points to growing evidence of human rights violations and alleged genocide against Palestinians in Gaza, with critics arguing that the U.S. government's continued support for Israel is complicit in these atrocities.

U.S. Rep. Rashida Tlaib, a Palestinian American from Michigan who has been vocal on this issue, introduced another resolution that "officially recognizes" the Israeli government's alleged genocide against Palestinians and urges the U.S. to fulfill its obligations under the Genocide Convention to intervene and seek accountability.

Meanwhile, Byrnes condemned Secretary of State Marco Rubio's decision to suspend medical visas for Palestinians injured in the conflict as a major blow to civilians who need medical assistance. Michigan organizers praised both resolutions, describing them as a crucial step towards acknowledging the humanitarian crisis unfolding in Gaza.

I'm still trying to wrap my head around this... it feels like we're right back where we were with the Iraq War and all that drama with Saddam Hussein . Remember those days? Anyway, I think these Michigan lawmakers are onto something - we should be focusing on supporting our own people here in the States rather than just funneling cash to Israel. It's crazy how much money we're pouring into their military while Palestinians are struggling over there... 420 million bucks is a lot of rent assistance or groceries for low-income households . And I'm all for Rashida Tlaib speaking out on this issue, she's been trying to get attention about these human rights violations for ages . It's time we take a closer look at what we're funding and making sure it's not just perpetuating more harm.

I'm really worried about what's goin' on in Gaza . It's like, we're talkin' about people gettin' killed left and right, and our government is just kinda... enable-in' it, ya know? I mean, I get that we gotta have alliances and all, but come on, can't we use our influence to make Israel stop the bloodshed? And what's with the medical visas thingy, it's like, those people need help, stat! My aunt has a cousin who lives in Gaza, she's been tellin' me about how hard life is over there, and I'm like, we gotta do somethin', you feel?

And yeah, I get the whole domestic issues thing too, but like, can't we find a way to help both our citizens and the people in Gaza? It's not like we're talkin' about some distant land, it's like... they're people too, with families and kids . And Tlaib's resolution about recognizein' genocide? Yeah, that's somethin' we should be doin'. Let's get this right, you know?

OMG, can you believe what's going on? Like, I know we're talking about politics and stuff, but come on, genocide is a real thing! And those Michigan reps are speaking truth, even if some people might not agree with them. The stats from 2023 alone are crazy - $420 million in military aid to Israel... that's like, a lot of money for schools and hospitals back home . And what's the point of it all? So Israel can keep occupying Gaza and hurting innocent civilians? Not cool, bro .

And btw, Rashida Tlaib is killing the game with her new resolution . Recognizing genocide is a big deal, and we need to do more than just talk about it - we need to take action . These reps are trying to raise awareness and push for change... let's support them and keep pushing forward . We can make a difference, one resolution at a time !

It's time someone spoke up about what's really going on in Gaza... This is not just about politics, it's about human lives and families suffering. The fact that US taxpayers are contributing millions to Israel's military aid while people in Michigan struggle with basic needs like rent and groceries is just heartbreaking.

I'm so tired of politicians using semantics and empty words to describe the devastating impact on Palestinians. Genocide is not a label thrown around lightly, it's a brutal reality faced by countless families every day. If US arms transfers are contributing to this violence, then we need to take responsibility for that. It's time for some real action and accountability

Just saw this news about Michigan lawmakers trying to block US arms transfers to Israel and increase aid to Gaza... it's crazy how one state is feeling the impact of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict more than others . I mean, we're talking millions of dollars in military aid to a country with a huge human rights record issues . Meanwhile, people in Michigan are struggling with basic needs like rent and groceries . It's time for Congress to reevaluate their priorities and think about the real victims here

omg i'm so done with this whole thing i mean like i know michigan rep Dylan Wegela is trying to do what's right but come on $420 million is a lot of cash and it could be spent on actual helping ppl not just arms i feel for the palestinian families in gaza they must be living in hell my heart goes out to them, u know?

This is just so heartbreaking . I mean, $420 million from Michigan alone? It's like, we're talking about people's lives here. Families, kids... it's not just numbers on a page, you know? And to think that some of our tax dollars are going towards arms transfers and stuff... it's just crazy . But what I love is that there are ppl out there who care enough to speak up and take action . It's like, we can't just sit back and watch this happen. We gotta do something. And I'm not saying it's going to be easy or simple... but at least we're having the convo . Can we imagine a world where our governments are working towards peace instead of conflict?

I'm not buying that $420 million in military aid is better spent on rent assistance and groceries . I mean, come on, we're talking about a state with an average home price of over $300k and a median income of around $60k - that's a lot of taxpayer dollars . Can't they just allocate it for actual poverty reduction efforts? And what about the Palestinians who are literally dying right now due to our arms transfers? I guess the US Reps are trying to make a point, but is this really going to help or just stir up more controversy .