Public Comment

Cleveland stands with all oppressed peoples in Ohio and around the world. City Council needs to listen to the will of the people and use their position to advocate for a ceasefire NOW!

There needs to be a ceasefire resolution, nothing less. Gaza will be free.

I have lived in Ward 15 since 2013. It is appalling to me that council will not even call a vote on the proposed ceasefire resolution. Council clearly does not shy away from making politically-expedient resolutions related to global affairs (such as that supporting Israel after October 7 or that supporting Ukraine's resistance to the Russian invasion), but when making such a resolution requires even the smallest amount of bravery or fortitude, there seem to be endless excuses - even when council's sole Jewish member, Ward 12 Councilwoman Rebecca Maurer, is herself in favor of the resolution. This is a geographically distant conflict, but it is one that has direct implications for many members of the Cleveland community - to say nothing of the clear humanitarian crisis well underway that should make any living human ashamed. At this point, even US Vice President Kamala Harris is publicly pushing for a "6-week" ceasefire in her meeting with Israeli cabinet member Benny Gantz, and numerous other prominent US cities have passed resolutions themselves, including Detroit, MI and Akron, OH. It is disappointing and disheartening that my own representatives in the city I've called home for over a decade don't even have the courage to go on record with a full council vote. I thank councilwoman Maurer for her courage in standing up to council and verbally supporting the resolution, and I urge council as a whole to follow her lead and support the resolution, as well.

Ceasefire now

There needed to be a ceasefire 5 months ago. Israel is an apartheid state that cannot claim self-defense when they illegally occupied Palestine. Israel has been killing innocent civilians before October 7th and continue to escalate the killing every day. They are bombing, shooting, starving and torturing innocent civilians. We are all complicit in this genocide and Cleveland needs to pass this resolution. Passing a ceasefire resolution is the bare minimum, we are asking for innocent families to not be murdered, is that such a hard thing to ask for?

CEASE FIRE NOW- END THE OCCUPATION AND GENOCIDE- FREE PALESTINE-FROM THE RIVER TO THE SEA.

Many have already stated what I believe. Your refusal to acknowledge the overwhelming views of your constituents by passing a declaration of outrage against the death and destruction rained upon Palestinian civilians is reprehensible. Not all of us can afford to visit Washington D.C. to express our indignation, so you, as our local office holders, must acknowledge the horror we all feel.

I am urging Cleveland city council to pass a ceasefire resolution for Gaza, immediately. End the genocide, permanently. Palestinians deserve freedom and peace and to live, as the bare minimum!

It is incredibly concerning that the representatives of the Cleveland community have attempted to claim an uneducated position on the illegal occupation in Palestine. As representatives of the law in Cleveland I would have assumed you would be somewhat familiar with international laws, specifically in the legality of illegal settlements by immigrants. Pass a ceasefire resolution immediately and demand an end to genocide.

The position of city council that genocide of Palestinians is none of their concern, even when their constituents repeatedly speak up about how important it is to them personally, is deeply wrong.