Dozens of pro-Palestinian supporters halt Raleigh City Council meeting Tuesday, demanding ceasefire in Gaza
Pro-Palestinian protesters disrupted Tuesday's Raleigh City Council meeting.
The public comment session lasted for about 33 minutes before pro-Palestinian supporters read a joint statement from 41 organizations expressing frustration that the council refused to vote on a ceasefire resolution in Gaza. Supporters in attendance began shouting "Ceasefire now," "We grieve together" and "Free Palestine."
Just before 8 p.m., the crowd of over 130 people left the chambers and stood on Hargett Street, raising their voices for a resolution. A similar scene played out at a Durham City Council meeting on Feb. 6.
Tuesday's meeting was the first Raleigh City Council meeting since Mayor Mary-Ann Baldwin said the council would not adopt a ceasefire resolution.
"Raleigh City Council chose to turn their backs on us," one person said.
Pro-Palestinian supporters have demanded the council to adopt a ceasefire for months since Israel declared war on Hamas. The war started after Hamas militants attacked Israel’s southern border, killing 1,200 people on Oct. 7.
In the four months since the war’s start, more than 28,000 people in Gaza, mostly women and children, have been killed in Israeli airstrikes.
Supporters, City Council members to deliver ceasefire petition to Rep. Ross' office
To open the public comment session, council members Jane Harrison and Megan Patton said they and 28 other elected officials across the state were sending a petition from Jewish Voice for Peace and Muslim Women For. to North Carolina Congresswoman Deborah Ross calling for a ceasefire in Gaza.
The petition was co-authored by North Carolina General Assembly members Renée Price, Maria Cervania and Pricey Harrison and co-sponsered by more than 10 "grassroots groups."
The letter said the march will start at 10 a.m at Moore Square and participants will "march directly to Congresswoman Ross' door."
