Examining the calls for the Raleigh City Council to adopt a ceasefire resolution amid the Israel-Hamas war
The Raleigh City Council has been urged to adopt a ceasefire resolution regarding the war between Israel and Hamas.
Posted — UpdatedSince October 2023 when the war erupted, hundreds of people in Raleigh have called for a ceasefire resolution.
Many of the people who signed up to speak last week have been relentless with their efforts – and have rarely missed a chance to share their passion – and at times, that passion turns into heated debate and angry disagreements that can be disruptive.
A WRAL News viewer named Lois emailed after the most recent city council meeting and said, “What baffles me is why no demonstrations for a ceasefire in the Ukraine-Russia conflict? Why only in Gaza?”
Other people have scratched their heads at the whole thing – calling it frivolous – and asking, “what impact would Raleigh, North Carolina, have on a conflict in another country, half a world away?”
What are the chances a resolution signed by Raleigh city council members has an actual impact on a war between two groups that have been, in some respects, at odds for thousands of years – rooted in religion and land rights?
For those of you who think this call for a “ceasefire resolution” is frivolous or performative or a distraction – from some perspectives – you’re exactly right.
In what world does a Michigan school board have a direct impact on a foreign war? Not this one. After passing its resolution, nothing happened.
- San Francisco, California
- Oakland, California
- Richmond, California
- Cudahy, California
- Bridgeport, Connecticut
- Wilmington, Delaware
- Atlanta, Georgia
- Detroit, Michigan
- Dearborn, Michigan
- Dearborn Heights, Michigan
- Hamtramck, Michigan
- Ypsilanti, Michigan
- Albany, New York
- Akron, Ohio
- Providence, Rhode Island
Resolutions are generally more symbolic than ordinances. While the resolutions calling for a ceasefire are symbolic and may not have teeth of their own, to call it frivolous would be naive.
Some of the biggest changes in the history of our country have come from symbolic gestures. For example, Rosa Parks refused to give up her bus seat during the Civil Rights movement, and now we learn about her in school.
That moment spurred more moments and those moments led to new leadership and change in policy.
As of Tuesday, U.S. policy supports this war. The U.S. government continues to send billions in aid to Israel without calling a for a ceasefire in the bombardment of Gaza.
Could a protest in Raleigh change that? And even if it did, would American policy truly sway the agendas in Israel dramatically enough to end a war?
Regardless, we have seen the power of symbolic, social movements to create real change.
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