Washington State’s 1st Legislative District Democrats CEASEFIRE resolution passed on December 27, 2023

*The 1st LD also passed two other related resolutions that same night, which are listed below this ceasefire-related resolution

Resolution In Support of an Immediate Ceasefire in Gaza

WHEREAS all human life is precious and the targeting of civilians, no matter their faith or ethnicity, is a violation of international humanitarian law;

WHEREAS between October 7 and December 6, 2023, armed violence has claimed the lives of at least 16,000 Palestinians (approximately 40% of whom are children) and over 1,200 Israelis, with tens of thousands more wounded;

WHEREAS in response to the attack by Hamas on October 7, the Israeli military has imposed a siege -- following more than 16 years of military blockade -- on the Gaza Strip, depriving the 2.3 million Palestinian people in Gaza (nearly half of whom are children) of water, food, electricity and fuel;

WHEREAS as of November 1, the Israeli military admitted to having dropped 10,000 bombs on Gaza, which averages 72 bombs for every square mile of Gaza, with the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs estimating that at least 45 percent of housing units had been destroyed or damaged, as of November 8.

WHEREAS hundreds of thousands of lives are at imminent risk without an immediate long-term ceasefire, restoration of basic necessities, and delivery of adequate humanitarian aid without delay to the Palestinian people;

WHEREAS the United States government and our elected leaders hold immense diplomatic power to prevent the further loss of Israeli and Palestinian lives;

WHEREAS the majority of the world and the majority of Americans support an immediate long- term ceasefire in Israel and occupied Palestine, and millions of people worldwide including from the 1st LD have joined in peaceful protests since October 7 to amplify this call;

WHEREAS the First Legislative District Democrats have the ability to request that Washington State’s federal delegation call for an immediate long-term ceasefire to stop the violence, the safe return of all hostages, the delivery of adequate humanitarian aid to the Palestinian people without delay in order to prevent the loss of hundreds of thousands more lives;

WHEREAS antisemitism, Islamophobia, and anti-Palestinian/anti-Arab bigotry have risen significantly in the Seattle area, across the United States, and around the world in the past three months, with direct impacts on our local communities – from synagogues and mosques to schools, homes, offices, and places where communities gather, as well as at protests and rallies;

WHEREAS all of these forms of bigotry, violence, and oppression serve to divide our communities and weaken our efforts to achieve collective safety, justice, and true multi-ethnic, multi-racial democracy here and everywhere;

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the First Legislative District Democrats condemn both the attack on October 7, 2023 by Hamas, and the Israeli military’s disproportionate response on the 2.3 million Palestinian people living in Gaza (nearly half of whom are children).

THEREFORE BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the First Legislative District Democrats call on members of the Congressional delegation in Washington to support and sign-on to the “Ceasefire Now” resolution, HR 786, co-sponsored by Congresswoman Pramila Jayapal, and to advocate more broadly for an immediate long-term ceasefire and delivery of adequate humanitarian aid to the Palestinian people.

THEREFORE BE IT FINALLY RESOLVED that the First Legislative District Democrats affirm our commitment to combat antisemitism, Islamophobia, and anti-Palestinian/anti-Arab bigotry, our support for the people of both Israel and Palestine to live in peace and security, and the right of all people to live, learn, work, play, pray, and engage in peaceful protest without threats, intimidation, violence, or death.

Recommended DO PASS to General Membership, Dec. 7, 2023. Passed at the December 27th, 2023 General Meeting

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Opposing H. Res. 845 and the Censure of Representative Tlaib

WHEREAS encouraging and supporting the Constitutionally-protected speech of elected representatives is essential for democracy;

WHEREAS Representative Rashida Tlaib (MI-12) is the only representative of Palestinian descent currently serving in the US Congress, is one of only four Muslims ever elected to Congress, and is one of only three Muslims currently serving in Congress;

WHEREAS Rep. Tlaib has consistently called for peace in the Middle East, including recently by cosponsoring H. Res 786 and calling for an immediate de-escalation and cease-fire in Israel and occupied Palestine;

WHEREAS bigotry, violence, and oppression impact our communities- from synagogues and mosques to schools, homes, offices, and all places where communities gather- and by dividing our communities weaken our efforts to achieve collective safety, justice, and true multi-ethnic, multi-racial democracy;

WHEREAS antisemitism, Islamophobia, and anti-Palestinian/anti-Arab bigotry have increased significantly in the Seattle area, across the United States, and around the world in the past three months;

WHEREAS H. Res 845 censures Rep. Tlaib’s voice and support of the Palestinian people, disparaging a progressive Congresswoman who routinely supports the Democratic Party platform and causes, disrupting the unity of congressional Democrats, and distracting from the need for Congress to address United States policy towards Hamas, Israel, the people of Israel and Gaza, and real-time human suffering and destruction in both Israel and Gaza;

WHEREAS H. Res 845 contains falsehoods and misrepresentations;

WHEREAS H. Res. 845 was sponsored and cosponsored only by Republican members of Congress;

WHEREAS two Democratic members of the Washington congressional delegation, Representatives Schrier (WA-08) and Pérez (WA-03), joined with 212 Republicans (including the entire Republican Washington State delegation) in voting to formally censure Representative Tlaib;

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the First Legislative District Democrats condemn the inappropriate censure of Congresswoman Rashida Tlaib by the House of Representatives; commend and thank Congresswomen Suzan DelBene and Pramila Jayapal of the First Legislative District for opposing H. Res. 845; and strongly disagree with Congresswomen Schrier and Pérez for their support of H. Res. 845 and request future dialogue regarding their votes; and

THEREFORE BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the First Legislative District Democrats request that their Chair share this resolution with Congresswomen DelBene, Jayapal, and Schrier, whose districts extend into the 1st Legislative District; and

THEREFORE BE IT FINALLY RESOLVED that the First Legislative District Democrats affirm our commitment to combat antisemitism, Islamophobia, and anti-Palestinian/anti-Arab bigotry, our support for the people of both Israel and Palestine to live in peace and security, and the right of all people to live, learn, work, play, pray, and engage in peaceful protest without threats, intimidation, violence, or death.

Recommended with Do Pass Recommendation to General Membership, Dec. 7, 2023. Passed at the Dec. 27, 2023 General Meeting.

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Resolution Opposing the Inappropriate Use of the Congressional Censure Power

WHEREAS encouraging and supporting the Constitutionally-protected speech of elected representatives is essential for democracy; and

WHEREAS the freedom to speak includes the freedom to disagree and the right to think radically differently from the majority; and

WHEREAS the only speech that is properly censured in Congress is speech that directly threatens violence or constitutes a direct affront to another Member, or speech that advocates or promotes treason or insurrection; and

WHEREAS while Members may vehemently disagree with Representative Tlaib and believe her speech and her views are dangerous, she should not be censured for it.

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the First Legislative District Democrats request that their Chair share this resolution with Congresswomen DelBene, Jayapal, and Schrier, whose districts extend into the 1st Legislative District; and

THEREFORE BE IT FINALLY RESOLVED that the First Legislative District Democrats affirm our support for the people of both Israel and Palestine to live in peace and security, and the right of all people to live, learn, work, play, pray, and engage in peaceful protest without threats, intimidation, violence, or death.

Submitted to the 1st LD Membership on Dec. 27, 2023. Passed at the Dec. 27, 2023 General Meeting.