C.A.T. Statement on the EPSTEIN WAR

AP video shot by Saeed Sarmadi

We are calling this war the Epstein War because it is a project of unaccountable power, secrecy, and impunity, not of the people in whose name it is being waged. Our organization stands firmly against the widening war now unfolding between Israel and Iran and the further destabilization of the broader Middle East. We grieve every life lost, regardless of nationality, religion, or ethnicity, and we reject the idea that more missiles, more airstrikes, and more retaliation will bring security or justice to anyone.

As a community committed to human rights and the protection of civilians, we:

• Call on all parties to immediately cease attacks that put civilians at risk and to respect international humanitarian law.

• Condemn the role of the United States government under president Donold †r*mp in fueling escalation through unconditional military backing, inflammatory rhetoric, and the sidelining of diplomacy.

• Note with grave concern that †r*mp has launched major military operations against Iran without seeking new, explicit authorization from Congress, raising profound questions about unchecked war powers and democratic oversight.

• Urge our own government to shift course immediately: stop feeding this “Epstein War,” support an urgent ceasefire, and invest its full political weight in negotiations rather than military solutions.

• Stand in solidarity with ordinary people in Israel, Iran, Palestine, Lebanon, and across the region who are living in fear and who have no say in the decisions that put their lives in danger.

• Reject all forms of hate, including antisemitism, Islamophobia, anti‑Arab racism, and anti‑Iranian bigotry, which wars like this often inflame.

War is a political choice, not an inevitability. Our group was founded on the belief that human dignity, safety, and freedom are universal rights. They cannot be protected through collective punishment, indiscriminate violence, or endless cycles of retaliation. We believe in the power of dialogue, international law, and grassroots people‑to‑people engagement to address real grievances and build a just and lasting peace.

In the coming days we will:

• Share resources to help our community stay informed and grounded: Associated Press – Middle East; Reuters – World News; BBC – Middle East.

• Organize spaces for reflection, interfaith and intercultural solidarity, and nonviolent action, drawing on analysis and human‑rights documentation such as: Council on Foreign Relations – “Iran’s Conflict With Israel and the United States”; International Crisis Group – Iran/Israel/U.S.; Human Rights Watch – Middle East & North Africa; Amnesty International – Middle East & North Africa; ICRC – Middle East operations; Win Without War; Friends Committee on National Legislation (FCNL); NAMI – coping with global news and crisis; The Trevor Project; Trans Lifeline.

• Advocate with U.S. decision‑makers for de‑escalation, protection of civilians, and long‑term political solutions that address root causes rather than fuel further conflict, using tools such as: Win Without War – action tools;FCNL – action center; MoveOn – campaigns against war/escalation; CodePink – anti‑war actions; White House contact page; Carnegie Endowment – Middle East program; Brookings Institution – Middle East & North Africa.

We urge our community and others to name this clearly as the “Epstein War” and to call it off—publicly, loudly, and together. We invite our members, partners, and supporters to add their voices: speak out against this war, challenge the harmful and unauthorized warmaking of the †rump regime, support humanitarian efforts, and insist that our government choose diplomacy over destruction.

We do not want this war. We want peace, safety, and dignity for all.

#EpsteinWar #Ceasefire #OperationEpsteinFiles