by Dan Mayfield, president, The Collins Foundation, February 28, 2026
The SAN JOSE PEACE AND JUSTICE CENTER categorically condemns the unprovoked US/Israeli attack on Iran. This is a grotesque violation of international law and the U.S. constitution.
Iran is a sovereign nation and a member of the United Nations as is the United States. The UN Charter is a treaty which is the “supreme law of the land” under Article VI of the US Constitution. Article 2(4) of the UN Charter states, “All Members shall refrain in their international relations from the threat or use of force against the territorial integrity or political independence of any state, or in any other manner inconsistent with the Purposes of the United Nations.”
The aggression here is crime under international law and also a violation of the US Constitution. The President cannot act unilaterally to bomb and kill civilians in Iran, or Venezuela, or anywhere else. Acts of war require a vote in Congress.
We recall that, for the past two decades or more, Netanyahu has claimed that Iran was within weeks of having a nuclear weapon. Those claims have been false, but have been repeatedly used to justify aggression.
We remind US armed service members that they have the right, if not the duty, to resist and refuse illegal orders and we pledge our full support to those who have the courage to do so.
In addition, as the oldest Peace Center west of the Mississippi, and as a member of San Jose’s growing peace and justice community we urge everyone to join any or all of the numerous vigils, rallies, and protests that are listed on our calendar at sanjosepeace.org. (INCLUDING TODAY’S PROTEST AT STEVENS CREEK & WINCHESTER). We urge everyone to join in the up-coming NO KINGS rally and demonstrations. There can be no greater demonstration of the dangerous consolidation of power than the current acts of war both internally and externally.