Beacon, NY passed a CEASEFIRE resolution on March 4, 2024

CITY OF BEACON CITY COUNCIL

RESOLUTION NO. 30 OF 2024

CALLING FOR AN IMMEDIATE, PERMANENT, AND NEGOTIATED MULTILATERAL CEASEFIRE AND UNITING FOR PEACE

WHEREAS, all human life is precious; and

WHEREAS, the City of Beacon aspires to be a safe and welcoming community, and is committed to promoting peace, unity and respect for all of its residents and community members; and

WHEREAS, on October 7th, 2023, 1,200 Israeli citizens were killed and 240 taken hostage, and since then more than 30,000 Palestinian citizens have been killed and more than 1.5 million are at risk of starvation; and

WHEREAS, the City of Beacon expresses its unwavering support and empathy for all members of the Beacon community who have been impacted by the violence happening in Palestine and Israel; and

WHEREAS, the City of Beacon acknowledges the deep personal impact that the violence in Palestine and Israel has had on numerous members of our community, and extends its sincere condolences to those who have lost loved ones and extended family members in this conflict; and

WHEREAS, the City of Beacon encourages all residents and community members to treat one another with empathy, compassion, and respect; and

WHEREAS, the City of Beacon condemns all forms of racism, discrimination, and violence (and support thereof) which target Arab, Palestinian, Muslim, Jewish, Israeli, or other communities, as well as any other form of intimidation, “doxxing,” harassment, public shaming, and hate speech, whether online or in-person; and

WHEREAS, the United States holds immense diplomatic power to facilitate an effective peace process; and

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the City of Beacon urges the Biden Administration to:

  1. Call for and facilitate an immediate and permanent negotiated multilateral ceasefire, towards a formal regional peace process, as well as normalized regional relations; and

  2. Call for the release of all hostages and those unjustly imprisoned, both Israeli and Palestinian; and

  3. Call for the immediate increased flow of humanitarian aid into all of Gaza, facilitated by mutually-trusted third parties.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the City of Beacon:

  1. Calls for continued open, honest, respectful, and tolerant conversation among our local community in support of our common humanity; and

  2. Recognizes the importance of addressing the root causes of crises to the development of a pathway to lasting peace and justice, and to educating the public on the interconnectedness of climate change, global conflicts, and fostering awareness and dialogues within the community.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that upon passage, a copy of this Resolution shall be sent to the Office of U.S. President Joe Biden, the Office of U.S. Senator Chuck Schumer, the Office of U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand, the Office of U.S. Representative Pat Ryan, the Office of Governor Kathy Hochul, the Office of State Senator Rob Rolison, and the Office of State Assemblyman Jonathan Jacobson.