Anti-war liberals pressuring Democrats to block attacks on Syria

Published June 21, 2017

Opposition to U.S. military strikes against Syria may be building among Democrats' liberal rank and file as Congress opens debate over whether it should authorize those attacks.

The Progressive Change Campaign Committee on Wednesday announced its opposition to President Obama’s plan to hit Syria in retaliation for President Bashar Assad’s Aug. 21 chemical weapons attack that left more than 1,400 Syrians dead, including 400 children.

The PCCC regularly directs its advocacy toward Democratic members of Congress, and its announcement on Syria allies it with other liberal voices, including MoveOn.org and Markos Moulitsas, founder of the influential liberal website Daily Kos.

“Your progressive base stands firmly against military action in Syria," the PCCC advised lawmakers in a memo.