Oakland, California CEASEFIRE resolution passed on November 27, 2023

OAKLAND CITY COUNCIL

RESOLUTION NO. 89986 C.M.S. INTRODUCED BY COUNCILMEMBER CARROLL FIFE

RESOLUTION AFFIRMING OAKLAND'S LOVE LIFE COMMITMENT AND SUPPORT FOR THE CONGRESSIONAL AND WORLDWIDE CALLS FOR AN IMMEDIATE CEASEFIRE IN GAZA

WHEREAS, all life is precious and the City of Oakland's official motto "Love Life" calls on elected officials and residents alike to protect life and stand united against violence; and

WHEREAS, the City of Oakland condemns the recent rise of Antisemitic, Islamophobic, racist, homophobic, and xenophobic attacks in our city and across the nation, including the doxing of elected officials, students, professors, journalists, and others speaking truth to power; and

WHEREAS, the City of Oakland advocates for the safety, dignity, freedom, and equality of all people, regardless of religion, race, or nationality; and

WHEREAS, over one thousand people in Israel and more than eleven thousand Palestinians in Gaza have been killed in a matter of weeks, of whom over five thousand are children: and

WHEREAS, the City of Oakland 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 si getting worse with each passing day, with the only remaining hospitals running out of fuel and medical supplies, and over 1.5 million Palestinians facing displacement, homelessness, and starvation; and

WHEREAS, international organizations like Amnesty International, the United Nations, the World Health Organization, the US Agency for International Development (USAID), the International Rescue Committee, and many others have made a call for a ceasefire in order to prevent the further loss of life of civilians and to be in accordance with international humanitarian law; and

WHEREAS, sixty six percent of American voters support a ceasefire, according to an October 20th, 2023 Data For Progress poll [1], and want to see the U.S. leverage its diplomatic relationships “to prevent further violence and civilian deaths"; now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED that the City of Oakland supports U.S. Congress Resolution H.R.786 and joins other cities in calling on our Congress Members to demand: an immediate ceasefire; release of all hostages, the unrestricted entry of humanitarian assistance into Gaza; the restoration of food, water, electricity, and medical supplies to Gaza; and the respect for international law; 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 city councils in the San Francisco Bay Area, the offices of Assemblymember Mia Bonta, Assemblymember Buffy Wicks, State Senator Nancy Skinner, Governor of California Gavin Newsom, U.S. Representative Barbara Lee, U.S. Senator Laphonza Butler, U.S. Senator Alex Padilla, U.S. President Joe Biden, and U.S. Vice President Kamala Harris, urging them to take immediate action to use their position and influence to end violence.

IN COUNCIL, OAKLAND, CALIFORNIA,

PASSED BY THE FOLLOWING VOTE:

AYES- FIFE, GALLO, JENKINS, KALB, KAPLAN, RAMACHANDRAN, REID, AND PRESIDENT FORTUNATO BAS

NOES – ABSENT – ABSTENTION –

[1] Data for Progress. “Voters Agree the U.S. Should Call For A Ceasefire and De-escalation of Violence in Gaza to Prevent Civilian Deaths” https://www.dataforprogress.org/blog/2023/10/19/voters-agree-the-us-should-call-for-a- ceasefire-and-de-escalation-of-violence-in-gaza Oct 20, 2023