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by Arab Resource and Organizing Center
San Francisco – In a 8-3 supermajority vote, the San Francisco Board of Supervisors has adopted a resolution calling for an immediate and sustained ceasefire in the ongoing Israeli bombardment of Gaza. San Francisco is the largest US city to adopt a ceasefire resolution. The vote comes after weeks of broad community support for the resolution, with several thousand turning out for board meetings and thousands of emails sent to the board, urging them to pass the resolution.
“With the passing of this resolution, the San Francisco Board has courageously stood on the right side of history. The interests and voices of the vast majority of our city’s diverse communities are finally being heard,” says Lara Kiswani, executive director of the Arab Resource and Organizing Center.
“The people of San Francisco have been consistent in saying NO to genocide, NO to ethnic cleansing, and YES to dignity for Palestinians and all people. This resolution is a good first step in the long road ahead for our people to be represented with the dignity and respect they deserve and shows that the board and our city stand against bigotry and racism of all forms. As we mourn the devastating losses of our loved ones, we will continue our work to end this genocidal war, and to advance peace and justice here in San Francisco and beyond.”
Since San Francisco’s ceasefire resolution was first introduced on Dec. 5, the number of Palestinians killed by Israel in Gaza has soared to over 23,000, including over 9,000 children. Over 80% of Gaza residents – 1.8 million Palestinians – have been displaced from their homes, with famine and plague taking hold across the strip. The Israeli war on Gaza has been described as “a textbook case of genocide.” Multiple UN votes have expressed overwhelming support for a ceasefire, and South Africa has filed genocide proceedings against Israel at the International Court of Justice.
Recent polling shows that 66% of all Americans and over 80% of Democrats support an immediate ceasefire in Gaza. There is also growing pressure from elected officials, including city councils and members of Congress, along with a growing number of trade unions who are supporting an immediate and permanent ceasefire.
To learn more, contact Wassim Hage, wassim@araborganizing.org.
