Photo of San Brunos Ceasefire Meeting: Photo credits to Musa Tariq
By: Ameena Stringer, Staff Writer
75 years of Genocide, 75 years of Silence, 75 years of Loss, and the peoples’ protests and prayers of hope have been answered. On January 8th, 2024, San Francisco became one of the first major cities to pass a ceasefire resolution for the People in Gaza, Palestine. The current humanitarian crisis has left Gaza “uninhabitable,” according to the United Nations. The amount of food insecurity among people is at an all-time high, and famine is imminent. While the rest of the world watches, some are starting to come out of the shadows.
In an 8-3 vote by the city council, San Francisco became the latest to advocate for a motion urging “a sustained ceasefire” in Gaza. A ceasefire agreement from both parties temporarily stops war conflict; this one act means humanitarian aid, release of hostages, and condemning antisemitic, anti-Palestinian, and Islamophobic rhetoric and attacks. This one act sends a message coming from one of the most democratic cities in the United States to President Biden that we the people do not support his fundings for further bloodshed of innocent lives.
“As a Palestinian, I don’t know anyone who hasn’t been grieving. I have a friend who had to flee, I know entire families that were killed, and there’s always a familiar family name in the news reports of casualties,” Noor Abdullah (12) passionately voiced. She expressed her perspective of the inhuman crimes committed willingly that are more profound than this war.
However, not all cities have been as supportive of the legislation. Several cities like San Bruno denied the ceasefire resolution, due to their position on solely focusing on “local issues” rather than international politics. San Bruno City Council member Michael Salazar commented on her vote against the matter: “My role as your council member is to focus on what matters in San Bruno–this community needs to feel safe, [and] for this I cannot support a resolution that may likely result in a dividing action.” Salazar later added that the city would “leave it to the Biden Administration to initiate a strategic ceasefire.” On the other hand, aside from San Francisco, Richmond has also voted in support of the ceasefire. “I think being the first big city to pass a ceasefire is amazing. Inshallah this influences more cities and people to vote for a ceasefire,” Leah Totah (11) shared with The Thunderbolt.
Escorted by families being separated and killed, lost hope is found. The people’s voices are being heard by the media and faith in the democratic system can be put in place. As much as the United States has proven to be involved in the cruelty, the actions of the people who stand together will always ring louder. San Francisco being one of the first major cities to pass the ceasefire resolution reminds the community that those innocent lives thousands of miles away matters. One small step has led to an onset of legislation in Oakland, Richmond, Bridgeport, Wilmington, Atlanta, and Detroit. More voices are rising following awareness for those who aren’t involved. America was already involved in international affairs, only this time the people are representing themselves.
