Instead of passing a ceasefire resolution, the members of the New Orleans City Council have all recently put their names behind a statement that seeks to address the “ongoing conflict in Gaza and Israel,” and is likely to be introduced as a resolution on the council's agenda for a vote on Thursday, August 8th. Our coalition, which has been tirelessly advocating for a ceasefire resolution to this council, was not consulted about this statement. We consider this 'Statement of Peace' insidious in its language, and firmly reject it. Here's why:

This statement was made without consideration to any Palestinian in this city. Our Palestinian community is disproportionally impacted and deserves a seat at the table. This is especially concerning as each council member has had private meetings with Palestinian residents in their own districts to discuss a ceasefire resolution and could have easily involved them. Meanwhile, it is clear by the language and the sign-ons that the Council involved local Zionist institutions to draft this statement early on in the process. By doing this, the council has shown complete disrespect to their constituents and the efforts they have taken to explain genocide to them.

This statement also negates the basic purpose of a local ceasefire resolution – to pressure the White House, the US Senate and Congress to change course on their support of Israel's genocide. The United States government has had the power to end this genocide since it began. As every credible human rights organization and international governmental organization has been outspoken about the unprecedented scale of death, disease, and destruction in Gaza, our government has continued sending billions of our tax dollars in weapons and funding for Israel (some from our own port), and has shielded Israel from all accountability. 

While 172 cities across the country have issued ceasefire resolutions calling on the United States government to implement a permanent ceasefire in Gaza, including by ending all military aid to Israel, our city council has signed on to a statement that explicitly supports “the efforts by the United States government.” This is a statement of hate, a statement which endorses the United States government's policy of facilitating the genocide in Gaza. 

This form will send an email directly to your council member, urging them to remove their signature from the Statement for Peace, and urgently pass a resolution calling on the U.S. government to implement a permanent ceasefire in Gaza. 

Tell New Orleans City Council that they cannot wait out the clock on the genocide of Palestinians in Gaza as we watch Israel continue to commit massacre upon massacre and starve Gazans with impunity. Tell New Orleans City Council to pass a Ceasefire Resolution NOW.