Should Triangle governments take a stand on Gaza? Hundreds speak out in Raleigh.
Nearly 200 people spoke to the Raleigh City Council about the war in Gaza on Tuesday night, as local groups continue putting pressure on local government leaders across the Triangle.
Most of those who spoke during the 4-hour meeting asked for a local cease-fire resolution in the Israel-Hamas war. It’s the fourth time people have filled the Raleigh Municipal Building during a council meeting to speak on the issue.
On Tuesday, however, there was an increase in the number of supporters of Israel, with some holding signs that read “Lies” or “Peace when Hamas surrenders.”
Support for cease-fire: Four Raleigh City Council members — Mary Black, Jane Harrison, Christina Jones and Megan Patton — all signed a letter calling on the Biden Administration and North Carolina’s congressional delegation to support a national cease-fire resolution.
“I do want to validate to the audience that the reason you don’t feel heard is because council has not responded to your concerns,” Jones said at the start of the meeting. “We currently have no resolution on the table because we have only met as a group once on this topic.”
She and Black plan to circulate their thoughts on the issue to the rest of the council to gain support.
Mayor at conference: Mayor Mary-Ann Baldwin was not at the meeting because she was traveling to the U.S. Conference of Mayors winter meeting in Washington, D.C.
Mayor Pro Tem Jonathan Melton presided over the meeting, repeatedly calling on people to remain quiet so all the speakers could be heard and not interrupted.
Melton called the topic “difficult” and said normally staff is able to provide direction on topics the elected officials are asked to weigh in on.
“This is not something that we’ve ever really been faced with before, this sort of global international crisis,” he said in an interview with The News & Observer. “And so at times, I feel a bit rudderless. But I want folks in Raleigh to know is that they are welcome here.
“I certainly condemn antisemitism,” he continued. “I condemn anti-Islamophobia. And, you know, sometimes international issues become local issues because members of our community are personally affected by them. And so I do hope that we can find some way to send that message that we feel the pain and we hear their concerns and that there’s going to be a way forward and some healing can begin.”
What some speakers said
Speakers said some might try to justify the deaths in Palestine but there are no excuses to “justify the slaughter,” said Rania Masri.
“When a crime is committed of this magnitude and supported by U.S. dollars, it becomes incumbent upon every single elected official, local included, to register their opposition,” she said. “Nothing can justify shredding the bodies of children.”
Others held up small onesies and baby clothing, saying each piece of clothing represented 100 children killed in Gaza.
Calling for a ceasefire and end to bombings shouldn’t be controversial, said Samira Haddad.
“Let’s be clear,” she said. “This war was never about self defense or releasing the hostages. This has been about destruction, ethnic cleansing and collective punishment.”
Liz Kardon, sharing her support for Israel, asked audience members to consider what they would do if their family members were raped. She was interrupted by people asking for proof.
“What would you do?” she said. “Jewish lives matter too. OK. Jewish lives matter too.”
Response around the Triangle
The town of Carrboro, in a split 4-3 vote, approved a cease-fire resolution in November, the first municipality in the state to take that action.
In Charlotte, a City Council meeting in December grew so contentious that the meeting had to be recessed and the public cleared from the chambers. And earlier this month the city of Greensboro approved a resolution for “peace and support” but fell short of calling for a cease-fire.
Newly elected Durham Mayor Leonardo Williams has fielded calls from residents to take a stance since early December.
Most Durham residents who have shown up to City Council meetings are in favor of a cease-fire resolution, but a handful ask local leaders not to wade into international politics.
Williams, who said “the advocacy on this issue is just as loud on all sides,” said he is bringing together a small group of advisers to privately hash out a plan.
People have also asked Chapel Hill and Orange County to pass resolutions since October. Orange County Commissioners Chair Jamezetta Bedford said the board is not considering a resolution, but a local group of Jewish peace activists has asked her to share a letter with other board members that they can individually sign.
Reporters Mary Helen Moore and Tammy Grubb contributed to this report.
This story was originally published January 17, 2024 at 8:12 AM.
