Note: The online Request to Speak window has expired.
Agenda Item
1 23-0935 Subject: Affirming Oakland's Support For The Congressional And Worldwide Calls For Immediate Ceasefire In Gaza
From: Councilmember Fife
Recommendation: Adopt A Resolution Affirming Oakland's Love Life Commitment And Support For The Congressional And Worldwide Calls For An Immediate Ceasefire In Gaza
As an Oakland resident and secular Jew, I am in strong support of Oakland passing a resolution calling for Ceasefire NOW. The reasons are countless, the one that I'll name here is that outspoken popular support and people power is the only way to create the change that we need. Our federal representatives need to know that we support this not only as individuals, but also as a city united in support of humanity.
As a Jewish Bay Area resident I am urging the council to support calls for ceasefire and the end to US military aid to Israel. The oppression of Jews and Palestinians is inextricably linked. I reject the notion that Israel’s brutal occupation and destruction of Palestinian life and culture keeps myself as a Jew safe. I urge you to heed the calls of myself and thousands of other Bay Area Jews who are demanding an end to Israel’s genocide and calling for our nation to stop funding this war.
As a proud born and raised Oakland resident I would love to see our city stand in support of a ceasefire in Gaza. I am appalled by the genocide taking place in front of our eyes in Gaza, Oakland must join the many voices around the world calling for an end to the violence. This is our chance to be on the right side of history
Oakland should join calls from around the globe for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza. I’m proud to see my city take a stand against genocide at such a critical time. No more hospital bombings, no more dead children, no more apartheid. Free Palestine and ceasefire now!
As an Oaklander I am proud for our city to support this vital call for an immediate and lasting ceasefire. Our tax dollars are being used against our will, ten million per day, to arm the Israeli military that is attempting a genocide of Palestinians. The least we can do is pass this resolution. There is no moral alternative. I have studied this situation for over two decades and seen with my own eyes the facts on the ground that the brutal Israeli occupation does not make anyone safe-- not Palestinians, not Jews, nobody. A religious ethnostate being given license and weaponry to wipe out an occupied population is abhorrent. A ceasefire is the mandatory first step towards safety.
Oakland needs to stay true to its soul as a revolutionary community. We have historically stood with marginalized communities and we must continue this today. This week, three Palestinian students were shot while on a walk in Burlington. This cannot happen. Oakland must take a stand to make Palestinians, Muslims, and Arabs feel safe. The loss of life in Palestine is a tragedy - this is a genocide that has been conducted by the Israeli government. This is not antisemetic, this is anti-genocide. Oakland must take this symbolic stance in support of Palestinians. This is an essential first step in creating equity among Palestinians and Jewish settlers in “Israel.” October 7 was bloody, but it was a brave and desperate response to decades of sanctions, murder, and imprisonment in Gaza. THINK FOR A SECOND. Was the freeing of US Black slaves peaceful? No. Enslaved black people and allies fought tooth and nail for their freedom, and brave enslaved people often had to resort to violence to break free from their captors. In no way is it justifiable to murder tens of thousands for simply trying to survive and improve their quality of life. OAKLAND FOR PALESTINE
I have been an Oakland resident for 40 years. As a Jew I feel it is especially important that I add my name as a strong supporter of this resolution! I do not need to have the terrorist acts of Hamas called out in this resolution to know that my humanity is recognized. Would we be where we are today if every person who feels that must be specifically named had been naming the abuse that Israel has inflicted on Palestinians for decades?
For those struggling with seeing the humanity of Palestinians, please watch the film In the Image: Palestinian Women Capture the Occupation. It's available on Kanopy.
For people who don't think this is relevant to Oakland, consider this:
First they came for the socialists, and I did not speak out—because I was not a socialist.
Then they came for the trade unionists, and I did not speak out—because I was not a trade unionist.
Then they came for the Jews, and I did not speak out—because I was not a Jew.
Then they came for me—and there was no one left to speak for me.
I am calling on the Oakland City Council to support this critical solution in supporting worldwide calls for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza. It's important to me as an Oakland resident to see our local representatives support an end to violence (made possible by our tax dollars) whether here or abroad.
In this specific case, there are alternate solutions to a ceasefire that more equally advocate for the safety, dignity, freedom and equality of all people.
For example:
1. By calling on neighboring Arab states to take in refugees, just like countries neighboring Ukraine did when war broke out there
2. By calling on the US government to leverage its diplomatic relationships to help establish these networks for refugees to temporarily flee to
3. By calling on Hamas to cease operating under and around civilian hospitals
4. By calling on Hamas (who is technically a government) to take responsibility for their own civilians
Calling for a ceasefire without calling for Hamas to end their mission to annhilate the state of Israel and its people, to put down their arms and permanently end their frequent and indiscriminate rocket attacks (which they send even during times of “peace”), you are basically telling Jews and Israelis to continue to suck it up and deal with it.
Having to exit your shower so that you can run into a bomb shelter is not dignity. Having to get out of your car and lay on the highway to prevent rocket shrapnel from hitting you is not dignity. Hoarding your own civilians over terrorist infrastructure and preventing them from leaving during times of war is not dignity. Being bombed and losing your home (on either side) is not dignity. This resolution does not go far enough to be considered equal and it should not be passed.
My name is Nadia Khan and I support the immediate call for ceasefire. As a tax payer it pains me to see our US dollars go towards the violence that Israel is choosing to exact on Gazans as it oppresses the entire population and deprives them of basic human rights including water, food, electricity, fuel, a means of economic independence and now with the incessant bombing in Gaza, access to health care and education and even a VOICE! These have all been targets as demonstrated by bombings of hospitals, schools, mosques, refugee camps, and journalists-- none of which not been spared. The children of Gaza should not pay the price in this indiscriminate rampage on Palestine. We know this is not unique to Gaza, as Palestinians in the West Bank suffer the discriminatory treatment, murders, false imprisonment as well, denying them equal rights and access to economic prosperity by burning down olive trees or other sources of income. The actions of the Israeli government speak louder than words, they are NOT targeting Hamas, but rather all the people of Palestine right now which makes this by definition an apartheid and, as defined by 800 experts recently, categorically a genocide. This must stop and I am happy to see Oakland take a stand for this next step. Thank you!
As a voter and Oakland resident, I support this resolution calling for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza and encourage all councilmembers to be courageous, stand on the right side of history.
As an Oakland resident, I have always been proud of our city's history of people-powered movements to fight systematic oppression and injustice. I urge the city council to listen to it's constituents overwhelming calls for a ceasefire in Gaza, and support the end to the genocide against the Palestinian people being perpetrated by the Israeli military and government, aided by the US government. I am ashamed my tax dollars are helping to perpetuate this violence. Please pass this resolution and end this genocide. Palestinian people deserve justice and sovereignty.
As a parent of a Jewish family, a person with relatives living in Israel, and a human being, I urge support for a permanent ceasefire in Gaza and an end to US support for the ongoing genocide there. The actions of the state of Israel defy comprehension in the number of Palestinian lives they’ve taken, not to mention that these actions are making Jewish people and even Israelis less safe by the day. There is no military solution, and Israel’s military actions only amount to death, death, and more death.
20k and counting Palestinians have been killed by isreal with our tax money. We will not stand for genocide. Please affirm that Oakland does not stand with genocide.
As an Oakland resident and secular Jew, I am in strong support of Oakland passing a resolution calling for Ceasefire NOW. The reasons are countless, the one that I'll name here is that outspoken popular support and people power is the only way to create the change that we need. Our federal representatives need to know that we support this not only as individuals, but also as a city united in support of humanity.
As a Jewish Bay Area resident I am urging the council to support calls for ceasefire and the end to US military aid to Israel. The oppression of Jews and Palestinians is inextricably linked. I reject the notion that Israel’s brutal occupation and destruction of Palestinian life and culture keeps myself as a Jew safe. I urge you to heed the calls of myself and thousands of other Bay Area Jews who are demanding an end to Israel’s genocide and calling for our nation to stop funding this war.
Oakland resident and I fully support an immediate and complete ceasefire in Gaza and throughout Palestine
As a proud born and raised Oakland resident I would love to see our city stand in support of a ceasefire in Gaza. I am appalled by the genocide taking place in front of our eyes in Gaza, Oakland must join the many voices around the world calling for an end to the violence. This is our chance to be on the right side of history
As an Oakland resident and a Jew I strongly support this resolution affirming Oakland's support for a Ceasefire now!
Oakland should join calls from around the globe for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza. I’m proud to see my city take a stand against genocide at such a critical time. No more hospital bombings, no more dead children, no more apartheid. Free Palestine and ceasefire now!
I’m an Oakland resident and I support a ceasefire is Palestine!
As an Oaklander I am proud for our city to support this vital call for an immediate and lasting ceasefire. Our tax dollars are being used against our will, ten million per day, to arm the Israeli military that is attempting a genocide of Palestinians. The least we can do is pass this resolution. There is no moral alternative. I have studied this situation for over two decades and seen with my own eyes the facts on the ground that the brutal Israeli occupation does not make anyone safe-- not Palestinians, not Jews, nobody. A religious ethnostate being given license and weaponry to wipe out an occupied population is abhorrent. A ceasefire is the mandatory first step towards safety.
Oakland needs to stay true to its soul as a revolutionary community. We have historically stood with marginalized communities and we must continue this today. This week, three Palestinian students were shot while on a walk in Burlington. This cannot happen. Oakland must take a stand to make Palestinians, Muslims, and Arabs feel safe. The loss of life in Palestine is a tragedy - this is a genocide that has been conducted by the Israeli government. This is not antisemetic, this is anti-genocide. Oakland must take this symbolic stance in support of Palestinians. This is an essential first step in creating equity among Palestinians and Jewish settlers in “Israel.” October 7 was bloody, but it was a brave and desperate response to decades of sanctions, murder, and imprisonment in Gaza. THINK FOR A SECOND. Was the freeing of US Black slaves peaceful? No. Enslaved black people and allies fought tooth and nail for their freedom, and brave enslaved people often had to resort to violence to break free from their captors. In no way is it justifiable to murder tens of thousands for simply trying to survive and improve their quality of life. OAKLAND FOR PALESTINE
I have been an Oakland resident for 40 years. As a Jew I feel it is especially important that I add my name as a strong supporter of this resolution! I do not need to have the terrorist acts of Hamas called out in this resolution to know that my humanity is recognized. Would we be where we are today if every person who feels that must be specifically named had been naming the abuse that Israel has inflicted on Palestinians for decades?
For those struggling with seeing the humanity of Palestinians, please watch the film In the Image: Palestinian Women Capture the Occupation. It's available on Kanopy.
For people who don't think this is relevant to Oakland, consider this:
First they came for the socialists, and I did not speak out—because I was not a socialist.
Then they came for the trade unionists, and I did not speak out—because I was not a trade unionist.
Then they came for the Jews, and I did not speak out—because I was not a Jew.
Then they came for me—and there was no one left to speak for me.
—Martin Niemöller
I am calling on the Oakland City Council to support this critical solution in supporting worldwide calls for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza. It's important to me as an Oakland resident to see our local representatives support an end to violence (made possible by our tax dollars) whether here or abroad.
I am am Oakland resident and I support this resolution.
In this specific case, there are alternate solutions to a ceasefire that more equally advocate for the safety, dignity, freedom and equality of all people.
For example:
1. By calling on neighboring Arab states to take in refugees, just like countries neighboring Ukraine did when war broke out there
2. By calling on the US government to leverage its diplomatic relationships to help establish these networks for refugees to temporarily flee to
3. By calling on Hamas to cease operating under and around civilian hospitals
4. By calling on Hamas (who is technically a government) to take responsibility for their own civilians
Calling for a ceasefire without calling for Hamas to end their mission to annhilate the state of Israel and its people, to put down their arms and permanently end their frequent and indiscriminate rocket attacks (which they send even during times of “peace”), you are basically telling Jews and Israelis to continue to suck it up and deal with it.
Having to exit your shower so that you can run into a bomb shelter is not dignity. Having to get out of your car and lay on the highway to prevent rocket shrapnel from hitting you is not dignity. Hoarding your own civilians over terrorist infrastructure and preventing them from leaving during times of war is not dignity. Being bombed and losing your home (on either side) is not dignity. This resolution does not go far enough to be considered equal and it should not be passed.
My name is Nadia Khan and I support the immediate call for ceasefire. As a tax payer it pains me to see our US dollars go towards the violence that Israel is choosing to exact on Gazans as it oppresses the entire population and deprives them of basic human rights including water, food, electricity, fuel, a means of economic independence and now with the incessant bombing in Gaza, access to health care and education and even a VOICE! These have all been targets as demonstrated by bombings of hospitals, schools, mosques, refugee camps, and journalists-- none of which not been spared. The children of Gaza should not pay the price in this indiscriminate rampage on Palestine. We know this is not unique to Gaza, as Palestinians in the West Bank suffer the discriminatory treatment, murders, false imprisonment as well, denying them equal rights and access to economic prosperity by burning down olive trees or other sources of income. The actions of the Israeli government speak louder than words, they are NOT targeting Hamas, but rather all the people of Palestine right now which makes this by definition an apartheid and, as defined by 800 experts recently, categorically a genocide. This must stop and I am happy to see Oakland take a stand for this next step. Thank you!
As an Oakland resident and a grandchild of genocide survivors, I want to voice my support for this resolution. Let Gaza live!
As a voter and Oakland resident, I support this resolution calling for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza and encourage all councilmembers to be courageous, stand on the right side of history.
As an Oakland resident, I have always been proud of our city's history of people-powered movements to fight systematic oppression and injustice. I urge the city council to listen to it's constituents overwhelming calls for a ceasefire in Gaza, and support the end to the genocide against the Palestinian people being perpetrated by the Israeli military and government, aided by the US government. I am ashamed my tax dollars are helping to perpetuate this violence. Please pass this resolution and end this genocide. Palestinian people deserve justice and sovereignty.
As a parent of a Jewish family, a person with relatives living in Israel, and a human being, I urge support for a permanent ceasefire in Gaza and an end to US support for the ongoing genocide there. The actions of the state of Israel defy comprehension in the number of Palestinian lives they’ve taken, not to mention that these actions are making Jewish people and even Israelis less safe by the day. There is no military solution, and Israel’s military actions only amount to death, death, and more death.
20k and counting Palestinians have been killed by isreal with our tax money. We will not stand for genocide. Please affirm that Oakland does not stand with genocide.
I urge you to call for an immediate and permanent ceasefire in Gaza.