El Monte, California passed a CEASEFIRE resolution on April 2, 2024

A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF EL MONTE, CALIFORNIA SUPPORTING A RESOLUTION CALLING FOR AN IMMEDIATE DE-ESCALATION AND PERMANENT CEASE-FIRE IN ISRAEL AND OCCUPIED PALESTINE

WHEREAS, the City of El Monte advocates for peace, safety dignity, freedom, and equality for all people, and is comprised of diverse individuals whose collective cultures, religions, backgrounds, orientations, abilities, and viewpoints join to form a community that prides itself on being welcoming and accepting of people from all walks of life; and

WHEREAS, the City of El Monte believes that all people regardless of race, color, national origin, sex, and religion should be able to live in dignity, freedom, and equality without fear of destruction; and

WHEREAS, the City of El Monte condemns the recent rise of antisemitic, Islamophobic, racist, homophobic, and xenophobic attacks across the nation; and

WHEREAS, the City of El Monte recognizes ongoing conflicts throughout the globe, including in the Middle East, Ukraine, Xinjiang China, Central and South America, Africa, and Asia, have claimed the lives of many, including mothers and children; have caused immeasurable suffering, including illegal detainment and torture; have denied innocent civilians their basic right to human dignity; and if allowed to continue unabated will result in the loss of many more lives; and

WHEREAS, the current assault on Gaza, which started October 7, 2023 after Hamas killed 1,200 Israeli people and kidnapped 240 Israeli people, has resulted in over 32,845 Palestinians killed, including 13,000 children, 8,400 women and over 1.9 million Palestinians displaced by the State of Israel;

WHEREAS, the City of El Monte recognizes that the current crisis in the Middle East takes place within a long history and affirms the root causes of the crisis needs to be addressed for a pathway to lasting peace and justice to be developed; and

WHEREAS, the United Nations called for an immediate ceasefire to prevent further loss of civilian life in the Middle East; and

WHEREAS, the Federal Government holds immense diplomatic power to save Israeli and Palestinian lives.

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF EL MONTE AS FOLLOWS:

SECTION 1. The City of El Monte supports local efforts to combat antisemitism, Islamophobia, racism, and homophobic and xenophobic attacks.

SECTION 2. The City of El Monte supports U.S. Congress Resolution H.R. 786 and joins other cities in calling on our Congressional Representatives and Senators to demand: a permanent ceasefire; the release of all hostages and unlawful prisoners; unrestricted humanitarian assistance into Gaza; the restoration of food, water, electricity, and medical supplies to Gaza; and an immediate respect for international law by Israel and Hamas.

SECTION 3. The City of El Monte calls on leaders at the federal level to continue to work cooperatively with the global community to pursue peace throughout the globe to guard and protect the lives, health, and security of innocent civilians.

SECTION 4. The City Clerk shall send a copy of this resolution to the Offices of U.S. Rep. Grace F. Napolitano (CA-31), Senators Alex Padilla and Laphonza Butler, and President Joe Biden, urging them to take immediate action to use their position and influence to end violence.

SECTION 5. This Resolution shall take effect immediately upon its adoption and the City Clerk shall certify to the passage and adoption of this Resolution and enter it in the book of original Resolutions.

PASSED AND ADOPTED by the City Council of the City of El Monte at its regular meeting on this 2nd day of April 2024.