Remove Tom Cotton from the IRI Board of Directors

Shame on Tom Cotton.

In taking a look at the "Our Values" page, it becomes clear Mr. Cotton has sacrificed their credibility on those values for partisanship. He does not exhibit a respect for core values - including things like empathy listed under respect, nor inclusion or diversity. Values are determined not by stating them, but living up to them. Mr. Cotton has failed in that but the organization should not

Unacceptable

I am proud to work for IRI and am proud to stand with all of my colleagues. However, I am disgusted over Senator Cotton's comments and want to make clear that they do not represent mine or what I believe are the ideals of the place of my work. He has the right to his options and comments, but he does not have the right to reflect mine so completely inaccurately as an IRI employee. It is for this reason I am signing this petition.

This man is a disgrace to American politics and shouldn’t serve on the board of any organization that takes itself seriously

Tom Cotton's principles and actions cannot be associated with the work of IRI. Shame on IRI. There is no legitimacy here now.

Clarification: Apologies for saying our board instead of IRI's board. I am not affiliated with IRI. I am merely a concerned citizen.

“But this violence isn’t protest: it’s domestic terrorism”. “No quarter for insurrectionists”. Shortly after Senator Cotton made these remarks President Trump declared himself an ally to peaceful protests on a splitscreen, live national broadcast. In the other screen during the broadcast, we watched aghast as military police, empowered by the rhetoric of thugs like Cotton and Trump, indiscriminately fired tear gas and rubber bullets into crowds of peaceful protestors and press. It appears then, that due to the looting of “a few bad apples” (to use language that defenders of police brutality, like Cotton, so often invoke), both Trump and Cotton have decided each and every one of these peaceful protestors is, rather, a domestic terrorist and should be treated as such. It is appallingly jarring that they were not outraged at the murders of black women, men, and children, such as Breonna, George, and Tamir, at the hands of police; but as soon as property is damaged, peaceful protestors deserve to be shot dead in the streets by our military according to Cotton. These are not the words and actions of leaders who hold American values near and dear to their heart, and are not characteristic of “the Shining City on a Hill” America was described as by President Reagan - whom this Institute lionizes. Unfortunately, these words and this behavior is all too familiar to IRI; however it usually comes from the authoritarian thugs and tin pot dictators IRI works against. How can we accept these words from a board member that are antithetical to IRI work abroad? If our board has any ounce of integrity - and given the lasting impact of John McCain and Ronald Reagan on IRI, I would hope that IRI does - Dan and others will not hesitate to remove Senator Cotton from our board. The choice is clear: hold IRI accountable or embrace the authoritarian ethos of, “Do as I say, not as I do”.

This is unacceptable

He needs to be removed

This comment is not only fundamentally against the values of democracy and echoes clearly rhetoric of some of the world's harshest dictators. Comments such as this from a member of IRI's board undermine our credibility and can put at risk individuals who are on the ground. We live every day understanding that words have power and we as an Institute must act accordingly.

As an organization that seeks to support and champion democracy globally, IRI cannot afford the luxury of silence or indifference to the remarks made by Senator Cotton. Keeping people like him on the board erodes IRI’s legitimacy. And, as a mission-driven organization, legitimacy is our only currency.

As a governmental representative calling on the military to give "no quarter" against its own citizens, Mr. Cottom is encouraging not only a fundamental violation of our values as a nation, but also crimes against humanity (Article 3 of the UDHR and an Article 6 violation of ICCPR, for starters). He has abrogated his responsibility not only as a sitting board member of this organization, whose mission is to support democracy and human rights, but also his standing as an elected representative of the people of the United States.

The Senator's comments are in direct opposition to the democratic and human rights mission of IRI

IRI, including all staff and board members, must stand up for and exemplify democratic values and practices internally, domestically and abroad to maintain our credibility and value, and more importantly to meet basic ethical standards. Suggesting 'no quarter' be given is inimical to our mission, and moreover is frankly a war crime. We absolutely cannot have someone making such remarks on our board.

As IRI staff we stand behind many people around the world who risk their lives to call for a more just society. We owe it to them to maintain our credibility and stand up against violent responses to protest in the United States, and calls for violence by Sen. Cotton.

Echoing Kate: we have values, time to show up for them

He do not represent us and we don't want him to be part of IRI.

It is hypocritical to promote this organization as one that advances democracy and freedom while Senator Cotton sits on the board.

An individual that does not respect - and actively opposes - the inalienable rights afforded to citizens through a country's legal framework has no place sitting on the board of a good governance, pro-democracy institution. IRI must hold its board members to the same standards its has for its grants, beneficiaries and employees.