Albany, California passed a CEASEFIRE resolution on March 25, 2024

RESOLUTION NO. 2024-16

A RESOLUTION OF THE ALBANY CITY COUNCIL SUPPORTING AN IMMEDIATE BILATERAL CEASEFIRE IN GAZA

WHEREAS, the City of Albany acknowledges the suffering of the peoples of the Middle East and affirms our shared humanity; and

WHEREAS, the City of Albany recognizes that the current crisis takes place within a long and complex history, and affirms that, for a pathway to lasting peace to be developed, the root causes of the crisis will need to be addressed; and

WHEREAS, all human life is precious, and the City of Albany has a long and proud history of standing on the side of peace, affirming our commitment to speak against injustice, and supporting collaborative dialogue; and

WHEREAS, the loss of life and displacement of people in Israel and Palestine has directly impacted our community through both our direct connections to friends and loved ones in Israel and Gaza, and our shared suffering in the face of the ongoing crisis and its ripples; and

WHEREAS, on October 7th, over 1,200 citizens of Israel and visitors from other countries were killed by Hamas and over 200 more since; and

WHEREAS, since October 7th over 30,000 Palestinians and countless visitors and aid workers in Gaza have been killed by Israel; and

WHEREAS, the City of Albany recognizes the fear, anxiety, and grief of Israelis and Albany residents whose friends and loved ones perished, were taken hostage or survived the October 7th attack with physical and psychological injuries, and the continuing pain for the suffering of those who are being held hostage; and

WHEREAS, the City of Albany recognizes the fear, anxiety, and grief of Palestinians, Gazans, and Albany residents whose friends and loved ones have perished since October 7 or have survived with physical and psychological injuries; and

WHEREAS, millions of lives are at imminent risk from the continued hostilities and due to a lack of food and medical care; and

WHEREAS, international organizations like Amnesty International, the United Nations, European Parliament, the World Health Organization, the US Agency for International Development (USAID), the International Rescue Committee, the International Court of Justice, and many others have made calls for an end to the hostilities in order to prevent the further loss of civilian lives, allow entry of humanitarian aid, and comply with international humanitarian law; and

WHEREAS, our nation and our leaders are uniquely situated to help bring about a peaceful end to the current violence.

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that the City of Albany condemns the violence and hostility that occurred at the ceasefire protest on January 6th of this year; and

BE IT FUTHER RESOLVED, the City of Albany condemns the recent rise in Antisemitic, anti-Israeli, Islamophobic, anti-Arab, anti-Palestinian, racist, and xenophobic hatred in our community and across the nation, including efforts to target, harass, and intimidate students, journalists, community leaders, elected officials and others who have spoken for what they believe in; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, the City of Albany reaffirms the right to peacefully gather and protest, and to do so without fear of intimidation, harassment or retribution; and

BE IT FUTHER RESOLVED, that the Albany City Council does hereby urge our community to develop and participate in activities that foster tolerance, empathy, education, understanding ofpeople ofall backgrounds and religious faiths, and promote peaceful conflict resolution among all parties; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the City of Albany joins other cities in calling for our national government to demand an immediate, unconditional and bilateral ceasefire in Gaza, unconditional release of all hostages and civilian prisoners, the unrestricted entry of humanitarian assistance into Gaza, the full restoration of food, water, electricity, and medical supplies to Gaza, and negotiation of a permanent, just solution to the conflict that results in lasting prosperity for all by affirming all parties right to self-determination and peaceful coexistence; and

BE IT FUTHER RESOLVED, that a copy of this resolution be sent to the offices of U.S. Representative Barbara Lee, U.S. Senator Laphonza Butler, U.S. Senator Alex Padilla, Qatari Emir Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, Iranian Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, U.S. President Joe Biden, and U.S. Vice President Kamala Harris, as well as the leadership of both Israel and Gaza urging them to take immediate action to use their position and influence to negotiate an end to the violence in Gaza and Israel.