Providence City Council passes resolution urging Israeli-Palestine ceasefire

The resolution also calls for humanitarian assistance to Gaza

“Today I'm going to rise in strong support of item #23, which is a resolution that my colleague Justin Roias also introduced,” said Providence City Councilor Miguel Sanchez (Ward 6) during Thursday evening’s meeting of the Providence City Council. “Essentially, what this [resolution] does is urge our federal delegation and the President to support something that most Americans are supporting now, and that's a ceasefire. [You can watch the entire City Council meeting here.]

“There was a poll done on the 19th, I believe, that said 80% of Democrats support this. And in my opinion, this is the most important thing that we should all be supporting right now because if we don't there's going to be a lot of innocent lives that are killed, unfortunately. We all support peace and justice. I'd like to urge my colleagues to support this resolution, and I'd like to thank all the folks who came out today in support of this goal that we should all be striving for.”

Councilmember Sanchez was recently fired from his state job by Rhode Island Governor Daniel McKee for his stance in support of Palestine.

Councilmember Mary Kay Harris (Ward 11) also spoke in support of the resolution.

Nearly 30 people were in attendance at the meeting of the City Council in support of the resolution, many of whom were members of Jewish Voice for Peace - Rhode Island, who only two days earlier had delivered letters to United States Senator Jack Reed and Representative Seth Magaziner urging them to support the call for a ceasefire.

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The resolution:

WHEREAS, All human life is precious, and the targeting of civilians, no matter their faith or ethnicity, is a violation of international humanitarian law; and

WHEREAS, Between October 7 and October 27, 2023, armed violence has claimed the lives of over 7,000 Palestinians and over 1,400 Israelis, including Americans, and wounded thousands more; and

WHEREAS, Hundreds of thousands of lives are at imminent risk if a cease-fire is not achieved and humanitarian aid is not delivered without delay; and

WHEREAS, All members of the Rhode Island Federal Delegation must use the platform provided by their office to advocate for measures that will result in the least amount of death and violence; and

WHEREAS, The Federal Government holds immense diplomatic power to save Israeli and Palestinian lives.

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, That the City of Providence

1. Urges the Biden administration to immediately call for and facilitate de-escalation and a ceasefire to urgently end the current violence; and

2. Calls upon the Biden administration to promptly send and facilitate the entry of humanitarian assistance to Gaza

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That upon passage a copy of this Resolution be sent to the Office of U.S. President Joe Biden, the Office of U.S. Representative Seth Magaziner, the Office of U.S. Senator Sheldon Whitehouse, and the Office of U.S. Senator Jack Reed.

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The resolution passed 11-1, with all members of the City voting in favor of the resolution except for Providence City Councilmember Jo-Ann Ryan (Ward 5). Councilmembers Justin Roias (Ward 4), James Taylor (Ward 8), and Rachel Miller (Ward 13) were absent.

Jewish Voice for Peace - Rhode Island released the following statement in response to the passage of the resolution:

“Last night, Providence City Council passed a resolution calling for an immediate ceasefire, as the call spreads city to city and state to state demanding an end to the use of our tax dollars to commit genocide in Gaza. Jewish Voice for Peace - Rhode Island echoes the City Councillors in urging our elected representatives in the Rhode Island Federal Delegation (Senator Reed, Senator Whitehouse, and Representative Magaziner) to urgently advocate for de-escalation and an end to U.S. support for the Israeli military. As more and more people stand up for justice locally in their communities across the country, we are witnessing the impact in the halls of power. This is an important first step. As American Jews, we stand with the rising global movement to Free Palestine.”