Alameda Families & Friends for Ceasefire, a coalition of diverse multiracial/faith/generational community members of all backgrounds, urges the Alameda City Council to agendize and pass a ceasefire resolution immediately! Our proposed resolution is below. Language was adapted from existing Resolutions passed.

We invite you to sign on in support of this resolution by completing the form below.  We also urge you to let the Alameda City Council know of your support by sending a note to all council members [CITYCOUNCIL-List@alamedaca.gov] and by showing up at upcoming City Council meetings.

RESOLUTION AFFIRMING ALAMEDA’S SUPPORT FOR THE CONGRESSIONAL AND WORLDWIDE CALLS FOR AN IMMEDIATE AND PERMANENT CEASEFIRE IN GAZA

WHEREAS, all human life is precious, and the targeting of civilians is a violation of international humanitarian law; and

WHEREAS, the City of Alameda advocates for the safety, dignity, freedom, and equality of all people, regardless of religion, race, or nationality, making injustice anywhere a local issue; and

WHEREAS, nearly 20,000 Palestinians in Gaza have been killed in the last two months, of whom two-thirds are women and children; and around 1,200 Israelis were killed in Israel on October 7, 2023; and

WHEREAS, Gaza is in a dire humanitarian crisis that is getting worse with each passing day, with the only remaining hospitals running out of fuel and medical supplies, and nearly 2 million Palestinians facing displacement, homelessness, and starvation; and

WHEREAS, Alamedans are paying federal tax dollars that, instead of returning to the city for needed services, are being used to support military attacks and indiscriminate bombardment of the Palestinian people; and

WHEREAS, the City of Alameda recognizes that the current crisis takes place within a historical context 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, the ongoing siege in Palestine — in which more children were killed in one month than in any other ongoing conflict annually since 2019; and under which the scale of violence and destruction is explicitly condoned by the President of the United States — makes many Alamedans less safe, including community members who are  Palestinian, Arab, Muslim and Jewish; and

WHEREAS, the City of Alameda seeks to be a place where “everybody belongs” and there is “no place for hate”; and

WHEREAS, the City of Alameda condemns the recent rise of Islamophobic, Antisemitic, racist, homophobic, and xenophobic attacks across the bay area and the nation, including the doxxing of elected officials, students, professors, journalists, and others speaking truth to power; and 

WHEREAS, 66 percent of American voters support a ceasefire and want to see the U.S. leverage its diplomatic relationships “to prevent further violence and civilian deaths"; and

WHEREAS, a growing number of cities including the California cities of Richmond, Oakland, Davis, and Santa Cruz; labor unions; and community and faith groups around the country – including the Institute for Middle East Understanding (IMEU), American-Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee (ADC), Jewish Voice for Peace (JVP), About Face: Veterans Against the War, American Friends Service Committee (AFSC), Arab Resource & Organizing Center (AROC),  Arab American Civil Rights League (ACRL), Arab American Institute, Dream Defenders, Democratic Socialists of America (DSA), U.S. Campaign for Palestinian Rights (USCPR), Adalah Justice Project (AJP), IfNotNow, Faith For Black Lives, Movement for Black Lives, Center for Constitutional Rights, Center for Jewish Nonviolence, Christian Church (Disciples of Christ), Southeast Asian Freedom Network, Sunrise Movement, Transgender Law Center, UndocuBlack Network, Union of Palestinian American Women, Unitarian Universalist Association, United Church of Christ, Churches for Middle East Peace, Council on American Islamic Relations (CAIR), the Working Families Party, and many more have called for a ceasefire; and

WHEREAS international organizations like  the World Health Organization, World Food Program, United Nations Development Program, UNICEF, Doctors without Borders, OXFAM, Amnesty International, Save the Children, The International Rescue Committee; as well as hundreds of staffers of from more than 30 U.S. federal agencies including the Executive Office of the President, the State Department, U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID),  and the Department of Defense; and many others have made calls 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, the UN General Assembly voted by an overwhelming majority to adopt a resolution demanding an “immediate humanitarian ceasefire”, the immediate and unconditional release of all hostages as well as “ensuring humanitarian access”; 

NOW, BE IT RESOLVED that the City of Alameda supports U.S. Congressional Resolution H.R.786 along with over 60 members of congress 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 to refuse to send any more weapons or funding to the Israeli military; and the respect for international law; 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.

For questions and to find out how you can get involved, email: alamedaff4c@gmail.com or complete this form.