Hood River City Council To Consider Ceasefire Resolution March 25
Protestors gathering across from Hood River City Hall.
By Cole Goodwin
Hood River, Ore., March 11, 2024 – Hood River City Council heard a half hour of public comment both in support and against a ceasefire resolution in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict during their regular meeting on March 11, 2024.
The resolution is meant to follow in the footsteps of a similar resolution passed by Seattle City Council in November of 2023. The Seattle resolution supports efforts to create long-term peace between Israel and Palestine and condemns violence, and bloodshed, including the killing of children and civilians as well as rising antisemitism, Islamaphobia, and anti-Palestinian/Arab bigotry.
Activists in favor of the resolution spoke to a desire for the City to send a message to State and Federal legislators.
“The most dangerous threat of all is silence. The most dangerous threat is to think that our local voices do not make a difference in the world,” said Reverand John Boonstra.
John Boonstra (second from the right) holding a ceasefire now banner.
Boonstra is a former pastor at Bethel United Church of Christ in White Salmon who has been working with interfaith community groups on climate change education, activism, and public policy advocacy since 2013. Rev. Boonstra and Rev Vicky Stifter are part of an interfaith coalition that is urging the council to endorse the resolution. The coalition is currently hosting weekly protests at Hood River City Hall each Friday from 4:30 p.m. to 5 p.m. every Friday until a permanent ceasefire is in place.
Protestors gathering across from Hood River City Hall.
“While we haven't an admirable tradition in this Council affirming our basic moral values on the inclusion of justice and of human rights. I invite you to go further than that. I invite you to show us what our values look like in public policy. I invite you again to put forward a resolution on a ceasefire that adds our names to a growing momentum,” said Boonstra, citing the passage of another cease-fire resolution passed by Multnomah County Board of Commissioners last week.
“I believe that our federal policymakers need to know that we find it unconscionable to airlift food aid to Gaza at the same time as we provide billions of tax dollars to Israel for military hardware and weaponry, I invite you again to not go silent. Let’s not get caught on the wrong side of history by saying nothing. I invite you to put forth a cease-fire resolution at your news City Council meeting. Thank you.” said Boonstra.
Boonstra noted that during the previous week, he had sent the Council an amended version of the resolution, using the Council’s comments from the last meeting to make changes to the resolution.
Kevin Wolf, a retired Hood River physician also spoke out, “I’m inviting you to use your position to make a statement for our community. Thank you.”
Rebecca Rosson, a nurse practitioner in Hood River also spoke to the issue “This is a human-made disaster. What we’re doing is applying. I would just ask all of you to say not in our name, not in the name of us as citizens, not in the name of Hood River.” Rosson also noted the especially profane nature of the continued conflict during the holy month of Ramadan which began on March 10. Ramadan is observed by Muslims worldwide as a month of fasting, prayer, reflection, and community in commemoration go Muhammad’s first revelation. It is one of the Five Pillars of Islam.
Etisan Salman, a resident of Hood River also spoke to councilors “Every form of human suffering that could possibly exist in this whole world exists in Gaza right now. Please do anything in your power to put an end to this crisis. Thank you. Peace be upon all of you.” said Salman.
Avi Cohn, a Jewish community member, who has served in the Israeli Defensive Forces spoke to the City Council in opposition to a cease-fire resolution.
“Ceasefire existed in Gaza ‘til the 7th of October,” said the speaker, noting violent crimes committed by Hamas. “Why are we invading Gaza? We need to get rid of Hamas…I'm not going to spend too much time here because three minutes will just not be enough for it. I can tell you stories that will take hours because I was born and raised there. I served in the IDF. I was injured twice. I’ve been involved in all these skirmishes. If you have time, please go to YouTube. and look for videos by Noa Tishby, you’ll get some insight into the Israeli side.”
Cohn then turned to cease-fire activists in the crows saying he had not heard a single person condemning Hamas for firing thousands of rockets on civilians and murdering women and children.
As American pacifist and poet William Stafford might say “Every war has two losers.” Both Israel and Palestine have experienced losses in the conflict. As of today March 11, 2024, more than 31,000 Palestinians and 1,400 Israelis have been killed in the Israel-Hamas war. An estimated 1,900,000 Palestinians and 500,000 Israelis have been displaced by the conflict.
“The City Council should pass a resolution condemning any anti-semitism in this City. Not a cease-fire in Gaza until Hamas is eliminated,” he finished.
Another speaker spoke of a need for the City to take a just and unbiased view on the conflict:
“Before we condemn this guy or that guy we need to look at the history,” said the community member.
“The 200 people that were dead at the scene when Hamas attacked were not killed by Hamas. They were killed by the bombing of Israel because Israel enacted the Hannibal Act* to shoot anybody no matter what kind of people were in the car no matter whether they were Israeli of Palestinian. So that’s why you have all these dead people,” said the speaker.
*The Hannibal Directive, is a controversial procedure used by Israeli Defensive forces that involves firing upon one’s own soldiers and in the case of the Hamas conflict, one’s own civilians to prevent their capture. The Directive was revoked in 2016. However, the Haaretz, and Israeli newspapers have pointed out that the language used by IDF during the Israsel-Hamas conflict mirrors that of the directive and says testimony has been given that warrants a full investigation into the Be’eri Tank Fire Incident. Ynet, another Israeli newspaper has also noted the language to prevent terrorists from returning to Gaza “at all costs”, even if they have hostages with them.
“We of the people in this only destructive world where our leaders have become more vicious, war-hungry, power seekers, money starving, we must stand for what is rightful for every country: to live in peace with no persecution, no death, no destruction. A lasting peace in the Middle East will be a positive for all the Arabs including Israel and will solve all the problems expose a lot of truth about a lot of leaders and bring joy to millions of people in that area. Peace must be built on trust and love for humanity. With that condition, enemies will learn to live side by side. It doesn’t matter who you are. Please consider the resolution for a cease-fire and add it to your agenda. God bless. Thank you.” said the speaker.
Susan Crowley, a retired lawyer and public policy advocate in Hood River also spoke to councilors and praised them for the discussion of the topic at the last city council meeting.
“I was incredibly impressed. It was very thoughtful, it was quite prolonged…it was a really good discussion,” said Crowley.
Crowley also noted the Council’s desire to have precedence and went through and found other resolutions passed by the Council that a new resolution might be able to be incorporated into. Crowly noted that in Resolution 2913 the Council had endorsed and acknowledged the United Nations Declaration of the Rights of Indigenous People.
Hood River City Councilors.
Following public comment Mayor Paul Blackburn responded to the audience.
Blackburn confirmed that the Council had received an amended resolution based on the Seattle resolution and that several councilors had worked over the weekend to generate a similar resolution.
Blackburn suggested that the Council honor everyone’s time by being clear with the audience about what they intend to do and not do moving forward.
Councilor Megan Saunders said she was reluctant to discuss the resolution without having read the council-generated resolution.
Councilor Doug Stepina pointed out that Gladys Rivera was absent from the meeting and would likely want to discuss it with the council.
Councilor Grant Polson agreed with Stepina that he would like to have Rivera involved in the vote on the resolution.
Councilor Mark Zanmiller said that although he wasn’t sure the resolution was a good idea he would support it noting he wouldn’t like to rush the process but preferred to take the time to wordsmith something that would pull the community together.
Councilor Tim Couhihan agreed that taking the time to wordsmith the resolution would be preferable.
While some Council members said they were in support of individuals participating in public comment as much as they want as is their right, some members of the Council chided or cautioned the public for taking up too much of the City’s time with the issue.
Blackburn also spoke passionately to his personal views on the subject at the meeting. He noted that while he too was angered by the conflict he did not feel it was the City’s job to address such issues.
“I am so mad I could just about spit at what Hamas did and murdered all those people. I am so mad that I could just about spit that Netanyahu thinks that the two-state solution is wrong. I am so mad I could just about spit that the idiots in the United Nations in 1948, came up with this solution. I'm so mad I could just about spit that the other idiot in Germany in the 40s murdered all those people. I'm so mad. I could just about spit that the Pope sent people to the Middle East, in their crusades, to murder, all of those people. Like it goes so far back and smarter people than me have not solved this. And this is not what the city government is supposed to do. While we are struggling with the great moral issues of our time, there should be paved roads there should be police and there should be planning and there should be parks and there should be snow plows. That’s what we're here for. And if you want somebody who believes something else, you can vote for the other guy. So, we really have to be careful about where we spend our time,” said Blackburn.
“End of my TED Talk. We’re going to put this on the agenda for next time. Please do not pack the room on purpose. It just takes more time. I think we've heard a lot of incredibly eloquent language and I want to celebrate the tone. It's almost no exception, it was positive and thoughtful and heartfelt, and non-heckling. And I only got called a pathetic terrorist one time. So, Thank you very much,” said Blackburn.
The community can watch the City Council meeting in full on YouTube. To review the former meeting discussing the resolution on February 26, 2024, click here, discussion begins at around the hour and twenty-two-minute mark.
The City of Hood River will meet to consider a revised resolution addressing the issue at the next City Council Meeting on March 25, 2024 at 6 p.m.
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