The City Council of Cheverly, Maryland passed a CEASEFIRE resolution on March 14, 2024

RESOLUTION R-2-24

RESOLUTION AFFIRMING THE TOWN OF CHEVERLY'S COMMITMENT TO HUMAN RIGHTS AND SUPPORT FOR CONGRESSIONAL AND WORLDWIDE CALLS FOR AN IMMEDIATE CEASEFIRE IN GAZA

WHEREAS, the Town of Cheverly has committed in word and in deed to the idea that all people are inherently of equal value and deserving of the same rights; and

WHEREAS, the Town of Cheverly advocates for the safety, dignity, freedom, and equality of people of all faiths and beliefs, races, ethnicities, and nationalities; and

WHEREAS, we as local leaders stand firmly against the recent rise of Antisemitic, Islamophobic, racist, homophobic, and xenophobic attacks here in Cheverly and across the nation; and

WHEREAS, since October 7th, 2023, over one thousand people in Israel and more than thirty thousand Palestinians in Gaza have been killed in the past three months, of whom over twelve thousand are children; and

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

WHEREAS, Gaza is in a dire humanitarian crisis that is getting worse with each passing day, with a severe lack of medical aid, food, clean water, and shelter, and over 2 million Palestinians are facing displacement, homelessness, and starvation; and

WHEREAS, the World Health Organization, United Nations, Save the Children countries, and national, Human Rights Watch, the US Agency for International Development (USAID), the International Rescue Committee, His Holiness Pope Francis, more than 120 countries, and countless other organizations in Maryland and around the world have called for a permanent ceasefire to end the violence and suffering in the Gaza Strip and to be in accordance with international humanitarian law. Doctors Without Borders has advocated for "a total ceasefire and the unconditional supply of humanitarian aid, including access to food, fuel, and water. The survival of people in Gaza depends on this"; and

WHEREAS, the Town of Cheverly has a history of sharing statements on issues happening outside our town borders that impact our constituents here at home, and acknowledges that there are countless other atrocities around the globe which also demand global attention and aid; and

WHEREAS, the United States holds immense diplomatic power and has the opportunity to save both Israeli and Palestinian lives, and in this moment, we are advocating to our State and Federal leaders to use their power to call for peace; and now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED that the Town of Cheverly joins other cities and towns across the nation in calling on our elected leaders to demand: an immediate permanent ceasefire by all involved parties; release of all hostages; the unrestricted entry of humanitarian assistance into Gaza; the restoration of food, water, electricity, and medical supplies to Gaza; and calls for a resolution that protects the security of all innocent civilians; and be it

FURTHER RESOLVED that a copy of this resolution be sent to: municipal elected leaders in Prince George's County, the offices of County Executive Angela Alsobrooks, County Council Chair Jolene Ivey, State Senator Malcolm Augustine, State Delegate Julian Ivey, State Delegate Diana Fennell, Governor of Maryland Wes Moore, U.S. Representative Glenn Ivey, U.S. Senator Ben Cardin, U.S. Senator Chris Van Hollen, U.S. Vice President Kamala Harris, and U.S. President Joe Biden, urging them to take immediate action to use their position and influence to end violence.