SANTA ROSA CEASEFIRE RESOLUTION

The City of Santa Rosa, in Solidarity with all Peace-Loving People, Calls for a Permanent Ceasefire in Israel-Palestine

WHEREAS, all life is precious, and all suffering and loss of life through armed conflict is tragic; and

WHEREAS, the City of Santa Rosa opposes all forms of hatred including antisemitic/anti-Jewish, anti-Arab racism, Islamophobia, bigotry, apartheid, and genocide, and advocates for the rights, dignity and safety of residents in every community; and

WHEREAS, the city of Santa Rosa recognizes and mourns the lives lost on and since October 7, 2023 due to the violence in Israel and Gaza which has claimed, as of February 6 , 2024, the lives of at least 1,200 Israelis and more than 27,478 Palestinians, with thousands more wounded, and an estimated 1,900,000 Palestinians (85% of Gaza) have been internally displaced; and

WHEREAS, since October 7th,  Jewish  and Middle Eastern community members in Santa Rosa, Sonoma County, and across the country have been subjected to an increase in racist acts including violent physical attacks, hate speech and vandalism; and

WHEREAS, the current violence has deprived the population of Gaza of basic human needs, such as clean drinking water, food, electricity, fuel, medical supplies and adequate shelter; and

WHEREAS, the City of Santa Rosa recognizes that the current crisis takes place within a long history 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 

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the City of Santa Rosa joins the United Nations, Amnesty International, World Health Organization, world leaders, religious leaders, and citizens of the world everywhere in calling for an immediate and permanent CEASEFIRE, an end to all armed hostilities, and the prompt release of all hostages, the unrestricted entry of humanitarian assistance into Gaza; the restoration of food, water, electricity, and medical supplies to Gaza; and respect for international law; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, in honoring Sonoma County’s historical commitment to opposing apartheid, and that recognizing the entreaty of “Never Again,” and the memory of the Holocaust means opposing ethnic cleansing and apartheid everywhere; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the City of Santa Rosa advocates for the rights, dignity and safety of residents in every community and vows to combat antisemitism, Islamophobia,  anti-Arab racism, and all forms of racism in our community; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED THAT a permanent solution to this crisis must be one of the top foreign policy priorities of the United States to prevent further human suffering and promote peace in the region; and

FINALLY, BE IT RESOLVED that this resolution be posted publicly and that a copy of it is sent to the Sonoma County Board of Supervisors, the offices of Assemblymember Jim Wood, State Senator Mike McGuire, Representative Mike Thompson, Representative Jarod Huffman, Senator Laphonza Butler, Senator Alex Padilla, Governor Gavin Newsom, Secretary of State Anthony Blinken, Vice President Kamala Harris, and President Joe Biden, urging them to take immediate action to use their position and influence to end this conflict and work towards a permanent peace between Israel and the Palestinians.

**NOTE**

Specific language subject to change as a result of ongoing discussions with Council members.

Last modified: Feb 25, 2024