Sacramentans demand Rep. Doris Matsui call for ceasefire in Gaza. Will she listen? | Opinion

Earlier this month, I participated in a peaceful sit-in at Congresswoman Doris Matsui’s office in Downtown Sacramento. I joined a broad coalition of civil rights and social justice groups, including the local chapter of Jewish Voice for Peace (of which I’m a member), the Sacramento Regional Coalition for Palestinian Rights, the Council on American-Islamic Relations, the Japanese American Citizens League and Students for Justice in Palestine to demand Matsui join growing calls for a ceasefire in Gaza.

We held a press conference outside of the Robert Matsui Courthouse where her office is located, followed by a vigil to remember the thousands of children who have been killed so far in the Oct. 7 attack on southern Israeli settlements, and the subsequent Israeli assault on Gaza.

Yet after over a month of trying to get an appointment, Rep. Matsui has so far refused to meet with any members of our coalition.

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A group of us met virtually with her D.C. chief of staff two weeks ago, and expressed our concerns about our representative’s inaction in the face of the horrific violence in the region. More than 11,000 Palestinian civilians have been killed, nearly half of them children. And around 1,200 Israelis were killed in attacks on October 7 by the armed wing of Hamas.

Matsui has so far only called for a “humanitarian pause,” which all in our coalition fully reject as inadequate. A pause means an eventual resumption of bombing and civilian deaths, which is completely unacceptable.

What we’re asking for is not a radical position: 66% of all voters, including 80% of Democrats and even a majority of Republicans, support a ceasefire. To call for a ceasefire is the absolute bare minimum we ask of our elected officials. As of writing, however, only a single California representative, Barbara Lee, has signed on to Missouri Rep. Cori Bush’s ceasefire bill, House Resolution 786.

Over the past month, thousands of Sacramentans from diverse backgrounds have shown up at rallies from Midtown to Davis to Arden to demand a ceasefire. Young and old, with diverse religious backgrounds, none of us feel appropriately represented by our region’s congresspeople.

Yolo County Rep. Mike Thompson at least agreed to meet with members of our group this past Sunday, but he has still not called for a ceasefire. Groups in our coalition have disparate beliefs about how justice can be rendered in the region, and what an appropriate resolution to the fighting would be.

We all must recognize the necessity of a cease-fire to stop the senseless violence now.

At the national level, many diplomats and officials in the state department have recognized this growing public discontent and have expressed their concern with our government’s handling of this crisis. Some have resigned in protest. Last week, CNN reported that “calls for the U.S. to back a ceasefire are growing among government employees.” When will our elected officials listen to these calls?

I’m a politically engaged young progressive, and I know I speak for many in our coalition when I say I would not consider voting in the future for any politician who doesn’t call for a ceasefire. I implore Matsui and other elected representatives in our region to consider how their legacies will be tarnished by refusing to listen to the will of their constituents at a crucial, history-defining moment.

Michael Blenner is a member of the Sacramento chapter of Jewish Voice for Peace.