Veterans for Peace asks Evansville City Council to support ceasefire in Gaza

EVANSVILLE — The local Veterans for Peace chapter has asked city council to support peace in Gaza, and at least one councilor is willing to work to bring a resolution to the floor.

Speaking to city council Monday evening, John O'Leary, an associate member of Veterans for Peace Chapter 104, asked councilors to weigh the resolution deeply.

"Let our words show the world that the greatest unifier among people with differences is the universal desire to live in peace," O'Leary said. "When viewed from this perspective, there is really only one side we can take, and that is the side of humanity."

The resolution drafted by the Evansville Veterans for Peace Chapter states:

"Council expresses its unwavering support and sympathy for all, Palestinian, Israeli, Muslim, Jewish, Christian and all other members of our shared humanity around the world, including those in our own community, who have been impacted by the atrocities of this war.

"Council desires a lasting bilateral ceasefire, release of all hostages, and unrestricted humanitarian aid.

"Council condemns all forms of anti-Arab and anti-Palestinian racism, antisemitism, and Islamophobia; each of whom has a right to learn, work, worship, gather, advocate, mourn, and celebrate free from intimidation, harassment, and fear of violence."

Mary Allen, D-At-Large, told the Courier & Press after Monday's meeting she plans to sponsor the resolution, and she'll work to try to get the necessary two additional councilors signed on to have it brought to the floor.

City council passed an ordinance in 2021 which made it necessary to have three councilors sponsor a resolution for it to come to the council floor.

Other grassroots groups announced support for resolution

The resolution also has the support of another local group, The Palestine Solidarity Coalition of Southern Indiana.

The coalition urged its members and supporters to sign on to a letter to be sent to Evansville City Council members. More than 200 individuals did so.

Additional organizations also signed on were: Jewish Voice for Peace-Indiana; Evansville for Palestine; Islamic Society of Evansville and Evansville Recovery Alliance.

"We urge you to recognize the gravity of this matter and emphasize the critical importance of sponsoring the ceasefire resolution on the council's agenda for March 11," the letter states. "We advocate for an end to violence and implore council members to comprehend how it profoundly affects their constituents. We implore you to vote affirmatively, emphasizing the urgency of the matter amidst the escalating humanitarian crisis in Gaza."

The letter addressed council members as the voices for residents, stating a yes vote on the resolution would let residents know their interests are being recognized.

"As local elected officials, you possess the power to voice the concerns of your community. Passing the resolution alongside numerous other U.S. cities strengthens the collective call for a ceasefire," the letter states. "Over 50 cities in the United States have committed to standing against genocide and being on the right side of history."

Similar resolutions gaining traction across the United States

In an article released Feb. 2, Reuters reported at least 70 cities in the U.S. had passed resolutions on the Israel-Gaza war. Most called for a ceasefire, according to Reuters analysis of city data.

"At least 48 cities have passed symbolic resolutions calling for a halt to Israel's Gaza bombardment, with six others passing resolutions advocating more broadly for peace," the article states. "At least 20 have passed resolutions condemning Hamas' Oct. 7 attack on Israel, which sparked the current bloodshed, the data shows."

Reuters' map of resolutions did not show any that have been passed in Indiana, as of the article's publication.

While many cities have passed resolutions, others have voted them down, and some have declined to bring them up for discussion at all.

In February, the Cincinnati City Council decided not to introduce a ceasefire resolution due to a lack of "consensus," according to The Cincinnati Enquirer. About a month later, that changed.

March 5, the council considered two resolutions with differing time elements to the call for a ceasefire. One called for an open-ended ceasefire, the other for a six-week ceasefire.

Reporting from the Cincinnati Enquirer states the council voted 7-1-1 for the language calling for six weeks.

The abstention was from a councilor who reportedly said he would no longer vote on any resolution relating to international issues that do not directly affect Cincinnati.

This article originally appeared on Evansville Courier & Press: Veterans ask Evansville City Council to support ceasefire in Gaza