On June 13, 2017, the Senate narrowly failed to vote against Trump’s Saudi arms deal, reflecting “mounting concern over the Saudi-led campaign in Yemen’s war,” according to the New York Times. “Nearly half of the U.S. Senate sent an overwhelmingly clear message to Riyadh that … it needs to stop killing civilians in Yemen,” Human Rights Watch said.
The vote was 47-53, with 43 Democrats and 4 Republicans voting against Saudi Arabia and 48 Republicans and five Democrats voting in favor of Saudi Arabia. The Republicans voting against Saudi Arabia’s imposition of famine in Yemen were Heller (R-NV), Lee (R-UT), Paul (R-KY), and Young (R-IN). The Democrats voting in favor of Saudi Arabia’s imposition of famine in Yemen were Donnelly (D-IN), Manchin (D-WV), McCaskill (D-MO), Nelson (D-FL), and Warner (D-VA). Special scorn goes to Florida Senator Marco Rubio, who, while Republican, pretends to care about human rights. Yet Rubio voted to support Saudi Arabia’s imposition of famine in Yemen. Special praise goes to Vermont Senator Bernie Sanders, who excoriated Saudi Arabia’s export of extremist ideology in a fiery speech on the Senate floor.
Praise and protest your Senators by signing and sharing our petition.
Then call your Senators at 1-855-68-NO-WAR [1-855-686-6927]. If they voted against Saudi Arabia, say: “Thank you for voting against Saudi Arabia’s imposition of famine in Yemen.” If they voted in favor of Saudi Arabia, say: “Shame on you for voting to support Saudi Arabia’s imposition of famine in Yemen.” When you’ve made your calls, report them below.