ST. LOUIS, Missouri — Within 24 hours of the U.S. and British militaries targeting Houthi-backed sites in Yemen with missile strikes, the St. Louis Board of Aldermen unanimously adopted a resolution expressing concern over the widening military conflict in the Middle East.
The letter called on President Biden to demand "an immediate bilateral ceasefire" between rival forces in Gaza and Israel.
"Our constituents who reside in the City of St. Louis has (sic) made very clear that they want to see an end to this violence and want the U.S. to immediately demand a bilateral ceasefire," resolution sponsor Rasheen Aldridge, the 14th Ward Alderman, wrote.
The resolution also called for the "release of all hostages," and said, "we unequivocally condemn the brutal attacks by Hamas on Israel on October 7th."
More than 100 pro-Palestinian demonstrators packed the hearing room at City Hall to support the resolution's passage.
Two aldermen, Joe Vollmer and Bret Narayan, were not present during the vote, which passed unanimously.
Hasan Wadi, a St. Charles store owner who moved to the U.S. from the West Bank several years ago, said he lost nine family members during recent airstrikes in Gaza.
As the clerk read the resolution, Wadi walked in front of the panel of aldermen and showed them the pictures of his loved ones who died in November. He told the aldermen his family members were still alive the last time the Board gathered to discuss a ceasefire resolution.
"They love peace. They have nothing to do with the war," Wadi said about his family. "They love Jewish. They love America. They love everyone. They have no hate for anyone. They want just to live in peace. They get killed."
"I'm over here to ask for peace," Wadi said. "My neighbor, he is white. My other neighbor, he is African American. I have a store in a Mexican neighborhood. I have Jewish friends. We all live in peace. Why we couldn't live in peace in the whole world?"
The last time the Board introduced two competing resolutions, protesters had to be removed from the hearing room for disrupting the proceedings.
"I would be the first to say the first resolution was a little ignorant," Aldridge said, adding that he was previously uninformed about some of the regional history of conflict in the disputed territories.
"This didn't just start October 7th, but there may be one group that kind of escalated the situation that's been going on for years," Aldridge said. "Not all Palestinians are a part of Hamas; not all Palestinians agree with what Hamas has done."
Some critics of the resolution have questioned whether the Board of Aldermen have any legitimate role in shaping international diplomacy or influencing military affairs.
"I think it makes a huge difference, regardless," Aldridge said. "One, I think St. Louis has been at the epicenter of many movements that has not just started locally, but been able to take those movements all the way up nationally. I think locally wise, it sends a message to the people that live here."
Congresswoman Cori Bush (D-St. Louis), who started calling for a ceasefire on the same day Hamas launched its surprise attack against Israeli civilians, celebrated the resolution's passage.
"I couldn’t be prouder of the City of St. Louis for unanimously passing a resolution calling on President Biden to stop the violence and bloodshed happening in Gaza and across the region by facilitating an immediate, lasting ceasefire, the release of all hostages, and the entry of humanitarian aid," Rep. Bush said. "This is who we are. This is St. Louis. We are proudly pro-peace, we are proudly pro-humanity, and that is why we are proudly demanding a lasting ceasefire and an end to the violence.”
Below is a copy of Resolution 137:
CALLING ON THE PRESIDENT TO WORK TOWARD A CEASEFIRE IN GAZA
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, the temporary truce that came to an end on Friday, December 1st demonstrated that a negotiated ceasefire is the only way to release all hostages, deliver aid, stop bombing, and save lives; and
WHEREAS, hundreds of thousands of lives are at imminent risk if a ceasefire is not achieved and humanitarian aid is not delivered without delay; and WHEREAS, the Federal government holds immense diplomatic power to save Israeli and Palestinian lives and should utilize that power to that effect; and
WHEREAS, we unequivocally condemn the brutal attacks by Hamas on Israel on October 7th. We also condemn the response of Israel that led to the deaths of civilians, journalists, and healthcare workers; and
WHEREAS, we deeply regret that military operations have resumed in Gaza and we reiterate that all people - Israeli, Palestinian, and all others - are entitled to life lived in safety and free from violence; and
WHEREAS, the City of St. Louis condemns the recent rise of antisemitism, anti-Palestinian racism, Islamophobia, racism, homophobia, and xenophobia-fueled attacks in our city and across the nation, including the doxxing of elected officials, students, professors, journalists, and others speaking truth to power; and
WHEREAS, our constituents who reside in the City of St. Louis has made very clear that they want to see an end to this violence and want the U.S. to immediately demand a bilateral ceasefire; and
WHEREAS, the ongoing conflict in Israeli and Gaza has led to significant loss of life, immense humanitarian crises, and continued suffering for innocent civilians, including those with ties to St. Louis; and
WHEREAS, Gaza is in a dire humanitarian crisis that is getting worse with each passing day, with the only remaining hospitals running out of fuel and medical supplies, and millions of Palestinians facing displacement, homelessness, and starvation; and
WHEREAS, international organizations like Amnesty International, the United Nations, the World Health Organization, the International Rescue Committee, and many others have made a call for a ceasefire in order to prevent the further loss of life of civilians and to be in accordance with international humanitarian law; and
WHEREAS, we stand in urging the United States to act decisively by calling for an immediate bilateral ceasefire, echoing the strong and urgent plea of our community for peace; and
NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, that the City of St. Louis supports members of Congress and the Biden administration to demand: an immediate bilateral ceasefire; release of all hostages; the unrestricted entry of humanitarian assistance into Gaza and the restoration of food, water, electricity, and medical supplies; respect for international law; and calls for a resolution that protects the security of all innocent civilians; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a copy of this resolution be sent to U.S. Senator Josh Hawley, U.S. Senator Eric Schmitt, U.S. President Joe Biden, and U.S. Vice President Kamala Harris, urging them to take immediate action to use their position and influence to end violence.
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