Meeting Time: November 07, 2023 at 4:00pm PST
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  • Default_avatar
    Disha Palimar 11 months ago

    My name is Disha Palimar I am a resident of Oakland District 12
    and I am urging the City of Oakland to sponsor and pass a resolution calling for an immediate ceasfire in Gaza, condemning the genocide of the Palestinian people and calling for a end to the funding if Israeli occupation.

    This is a matter of extreme urgency, as the Palestinian people faced genocide every day the City of Oakland must take a firm stance against genocide and pass a resolution that demands an immediate ceasefire in Gaza and an end to funding the Israeli occupation of Palestine. We must follow the example of the City of Richmond in standing against the genocide of the Palestinian people.

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    lacey johnson 11 months ago

    I am a teacher and Jewish resident of district 2 and I strongly urge the city council to pass the resolution demanding an immediate ceasefire and an end to the occupation of Palestine. We should join the city of Richmond in supporting an end to the genocide and model what is possible. End the occupation. -Lacey Johnson

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    Lena Peck 11 months ago

    Hi, my name is Lena Peck, and I am a Jewish Oakland USD teacher living in District 1. I strongly support the resolution calling for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza. Oakland has the opportunity here to stand on the right side of history and set a precedent for other cities nationwide. Your constituents are calling for this--please listen!

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    Megan Clark 11 months ago

    My name is Megan Clark and I implore the Council to pass a resolution against the on-going genocide of Palestinians, this includes demanding:
    - a ceasefire and end to the genocide of Palestinians;
    - an end to the almost 20-year blockade of Gaza;
    - an end to US funding of Israel at every level (city, state, & federal);
    - an end to Israel's apartheid system;
    - an end to the violence of Israeli military and settlers against Palestinians, including the violence of displacement;
    - the release of Palestinians long-held by Israel without cause;
    - the right of Palestinians to return home without threat of death, violence or incarceration.

    As your constituents, we are asking the Council to hold special meeting to pass this resolution with extreme urgency, AND to post information and updates regarding the above actions on all of your platforms.

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    Court Fuller 11 months ago

    My name is Court Fuller and I am a Jewish labor journalist living in District 4. I strongly urge City Council to sponsor and pass a resolution calling for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza, an end to military funding for Israel, and an end to the occupation of Palestine. Let's follow Richmond's lead and loudly declare that we will not sit idly by as genocide is carried out with our tax dollars, in the name of Jewish safety. Jewish and Palestinian safety is linked, and none of us are free until all of us are free. Oakland can stand on the right side of history, and set the tone for cities nationwide. Thank you for hearing me out and reflecting the values of your constituents by demanding an immediate ceasefire. The whole world is watching.

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    Kari Malkki 11 months ago

    My name is Kari Malkki and I am a Healing Justice Organizer at Restore Oakland. I strongly urge the Oakland City Council to pass a resolution demanding a ceasefire in Gaza immediately! We must condemn the occupation of Palestine, the continuous violence of Israeli settler colonialism and war, and the US’s support of this violence. Free Palestine!

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    Julz Alfonso 11 months ago

    Dear Oakland City Council Members, I urge you to pass a resolution affirming Oakland's support for the Palestinian people and their right to return to their ancestral homelands and live full lives without threat of genocide, violence, and occupation. Oakland should stand against injustice everywhere, whether it down the street or across the world, especially when our own tax dollars are contributing to the genocide being committed against the Palestinian people, where around 50% of the population are children. As people living in the US, we must make it our duty to call for an immediate ceasefire, end ALL US aid to Israel, and end the occupation. True safety and peace begins when all oppressed people are liberated, including the Palestinian people. The people of the world are coming together to stand in solidarity with the people of Palestine, let's continue this legacy in Oakland and uplift our support of the movement toward genuine justice and liberation.

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    Tyler Kerce 11 months ago

    I am a Jewish resident of Oakland District 5 and a member of Jewish Voice for Peace. I ask the Council to follow in the admirable footsteps of the Richmond City Council and condemn the genocide of Palestinians that is currently being perpetrated by Israel. I also ask that the City divest from all companies and enterprises that enable Israel to occupy indigenous Palestinian land. Criticism of Israel does not endanger me as a Jew; on the contrary, Jews — and indeed all people around the world — will be safer when Israel can no longer foment conflict through its brutal occupation of Palestinian land and its violent apartheid system. Palestinian Americans and American Jews come together in common cause to demand a free Palestine, and we ask that as our representatives, you faithfully amplify our call and voice your outrage that Oakland residents’ tax dollars are being sent to Israel as it commits an ethnic cleansing. Please demand an immediate ceasefire and a just and lasting peace through Palestinians’ right of return to their homes currently occupied by the Israeli colonial regime.

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    Josh Healey 11 months ago

    My name is Josh Healey, I'm a District 5 resident here in Oakland. I'm a member of Jewish Voice for Peace, and I proudly support the resolution calling for a ceasefire in Gaza. My Jewish values taught me that "Never Again" means "Never Again for Anyone." Instead of giving Israel billions of dollars to bomb refugee camps, we could that money here in Oakland and cities across the country for affordable housing, health care, and education. What Hamas did on October 7 was atrocious and a crime against humanity. But you don't respond to war crimes with even worse war crimes. As the violence escalates and has many repercussions here at home, we need Oakland to join with others in standing for peace and justice.

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    Keala Uchoa 11 months ago

    My name is Keala and I am a resident of district 3. I am a youth educator and community organizer in Oakland and Richmond. I implore you to follow the lead of the Richmond City Council and endorse a resolution condemning the genocide of Palestinians and demanding a ceasefire immediately. Oakland residents have out in the thousands week after week demanding that our city take a stance on the side of humanity. We will support you in taking a stance, too. This is a LOCAL issue—we refuse to allow our city to be complicit in this horrific violence. Your silence is complicity. Represent the PEOPLE and adopt a resolution in support of Palestine immediately. Thank you

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    Abby B 11 months ago

    As an anti-Zionist Jew and resident of Oakland, I fully support city council ratifying a statement in full support of the Palestinian people, condemning the ongoing genocide in Palestine, ending military aid to the Israeli military, and calling for an immediate ceasefire. This is the bare minimum.

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    Sulynn Miao 11 months ago

    My name is Sulynn Miao, resident of Oakland District 6. I love The Town. I've lived in the Bay for over 10 years, even voted for many of you sitting in positions of power here today. I am imploring and begging each of you to please use your positions of power to stand against Israel's genocide of the Palestinian people. Our tax dollars are funding weapons being sent to kill Palestinians -- just this week a ship was docked at Oakland's ports that contains weapons bound for Israel. It is up to local governments like ours to speak up so the whole nation can pay attention and hear that this is NOT what we want. The city of Richmond passed a historic Resolution Affirming Richmond’s Support and Solidarity with the Palestinian People of Gaza. Oakland needs to follow in Richmond's footsteps: Sponsor a resolution following Richmond's model, call for a special meeting to pass this resolution with extreme urgency, amplify this on social media and hold yourselves accountable to your constituents. THE TIME IS NOW -- 10,000 PALESTINIANS DEAD WITH THE BLOOD ON OUR HANDS. ACT NOW. SHOW THE WORLD THAT OAKLAND AND GAZA ARE UNITED IN THIS FIGHT.

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    Allie Pollak 11 months ago

    My name is Allie Pollak and I'm a resident of Oakland's D4 and yet another Jewish Oaklander urging the city council to follow Richmond's example and pass a resolution affirming our solidarity with our Palestinian siblings facing horrific and indiscriminate violence. I am horrified that our tax dollars are being used to fund a genocide in broad daylight. It is clear that attempts to paint support for Palestinians as antisemitic is meant to silence dissent and mischaracterize the millions all over the world calling for ceasefire and humanitarian aid - my Jewish ancestors are rolling in their graves as the Israeli government commits mass murder and tries to use their memory to justify such horrors. To be silent is to be complicit and we all have a responsibility to act!

    Like so many of my neighbors before me, I call on city council to:

    - Sponsor or co-sponsor an advisory resolution affirming solidarity with Palestinian people against genocide.
    - Call for a special meeting to pass this resolution with extreme urgency.
    - Post information and updates regarding the above actions on all of your platforms.

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    Isis Piccillo 11 months ago

    I am a resident in District 5 and urge you to join the call for ceasefire and condemnation of the genocide of Palestinian people.

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    Yolanda Romo 11 months ago

    I am a resident of District 7 and urge Oakland pass a resolution for ceasefire in Palestine, allow humanitarian aid and medical aid enter, and disinvestment in the genocide.

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    Molly Roberts 11 months ago

    My name is Molly Roberts; I am a voter and resident of D4 for the past ten years. I am writing to urge the Oakland City Council to sponsor and pass a resolution condemning Israeli genocide of the Palestinian people and calling for immediate ceasefire. Oakland has historically been a progressive leader in the United States, a guiding light that others look to for anti-oppression activism. I cannot abide a council that is silent in the face of apartheid and genocide, and I know that we have the will of the people to be on the right side of history once more.

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    Savannah Sanchez 11 months ago

    My name is Savannah Sanchez. The city of Oakland, CA, and its residents have a long history of paving the way for human rights and social justice reform. However, it seems that the cries from your residents have fallen on deaf ears. The ongoing genocide in Palestine is leaving a stain on all hearts and souls of those who are not taking direct action to prevent further harm. I urge all of you to pass a resolution calling for a ceasefire and the cessation of all U.S.-backed military aid and funding to Israel. As a United States Marine Corps veteran, I am deeply concerned that this ongoing genocide, carried out on the American dime with the American government's support, will put our own troops' lives in grave danger. We must do all we can to end this genocide, not only because it is the right ethical and moral thing to do but also for American national security. I urge you to call for a ceasefire, denounce your support of the Israeli government and its war crimes, and prevent all U.S. funding to Israel. If not for the innocent lives in Palestine, then for all the U.S. troops who have been drawn into this atrocity and could very well die at any moment. Their blood would be directly on your hands, just as all the lives lost in this genocide, already are. The only way to possibly restore America’s reputation is if our government shows collective action against the Israeli occupation. Stand on the right side of history, for this conflict will be taught in schools one day.

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    Missy Dominguez 11 months ago

    Hello. I am a resident of District 3. I ask my City Council to pass a resolution calling for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza. I beg you to condemn this genocide and call for the bombing to stop. I ask you to call for an immediate influx of humanitarian aid. In more concrete terms, I ask you to deeply examine what role our city is playing in supporting war crimes, specifically through the Port of Oakland. I hope that you will follow Richmond and Alameda County's lead and stand on the right side of history.

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    Parvathy Nair 11 months ago

    My name is Parvathy Nair - resident of Oakland, D3. Please take a stand against this horrendous genocide that is being endorsed by our government. This harmful partnership with Israel has caused decades of violence and displacement of Palestinian people. It's time to take a stand and pass a resolution that demands to cease fire, end the Israeli occupation, and advocate for Palestine's freedom!

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    Nina Goldman 11 months ago

    My name is Neens and I am a Jewish resident of North Oakland. I urge City Council to sponsor and pass a resolution calling for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza, an end to military funding for Israel, and an end to the occupation of Palestine. Alameda and Richmond have taken a public stance and passed resolutions calling for a ceasefire, lets follow their lead. It is the least we can do to stand up and stand in solidarity with the millions of people throughout the U.S. and the world who are pleading for an end to this genocide. In the span of 4 weeks, the world has witnessed terrifying destruction, utter disregard for human life, children murdered en mass, entire lineages wiped off the face of the earth - not to mention historic monuments and thousands of years of Palestinian history destroyed.
    Please stand on the right side of history. The US is frankly becoming an international embarrassment and we need more local governments to push the tide.
    (And for those who may need to hear it: a ceasefire is not in any way a show of antisemitism)