Emotions ran high at City Hall during the Peoria City Council meeting between pro-Palestinian activists and supporters of Israel, who engaged in heated debate during the citizens’ comments portion of the meeting regarding calling for a ceasefire in Gaza.
It was notable that calling for a ceasefire at the meeting was not characterized as a “Muslim thing” or an “Arab thing.” Rather, it was a universal humanitarian concern. This was evident through the diverse background of the attendees, who, despite their diversity, united in their call for justice to end the ongoing deaths during the occupation of the Palestinian people. Some activists advocating for a ceasefire referred to the history of genocide and slavery in the United States.
What would MLK say?
During the deliberation, pro-Palestine activist Lawrence Maushard, passionately exclaimed, “Especially with this being Black History Month, does anyone here believe that Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. or C.T. Vivian or Mark Clark or any civil rights leader would not be on our side calling for a ceasefire in Gaza?”
Noah Palm echoed the same spirit: “I’m not the only one looking at this crisis through the historical lens of King. Travelers Weekly published an article last month by Mark Lampkin titled ‘What Would King Be Doing … Today?’ Lampkin agrees and says he believes that King ‘would likely rail against President Biden for being silent on the bombing of innocent people in Palestine’.”
Frustrated, Palm also commented, “We currently give approximately $3.3 billion a year to Israel in grants under the Foreign Military Financing program when (Peoria Public Schools) District 150 only has 87 cents per student for their art programs.”
Sonny Garcia, a Civic Justice organizer, added, “Never once have I personally heard a Muslim brother or sister wish harm on a Jewish life. Since October 7th, I’ve heard pro-Zionist Jews publicly state that they want all Palestinians, men, women, and children wiped off the face of the earth, calling them derogatory names, dehumanizing them, and celebrating their deaths.”
While activists pressed city leaders to include a ceasefire resolution, the pro-Israeli crowd argued that the issue was not solely a local concern for Peoria, but rather a foreign matter, causing division among residents.
More than foreign affair
In response, I argued, “Some honorable members have expressed reluctance to call for a ceasefire, citing the need to represent all residents of Peoria and labeling it a foreign affair. However, in reality, this is irrational. It’s akin to refusing to condemn the murder of George Floyd because some support the corrupt officers who ended George’s life. Let’s go further back and consider failing to condemn the slave trade and genocide against indigenous people due to fear of divisiveness. By this standard, the International Court of Justice’s positions against apartheid Israel would also be divisive, with 16-1 voting against Israeli crimes … This senseless genocide implicates Peoria, as our tax dollars fund the illegal apartheid occupation.”
Dr. Rami Abdul Ramin, a physician who served in Gaza in 2014, addressed the leaders, “I stand before you today not only as a physician but as a witness to the war crimes in Gaza. In 2014, I was part of a medical mission there and witnessed firsthand the devastating impact of conflict on innocent lives.”
Pro-Israeli leaders invoked anti-Semitism against those advocating for a ceasefire and Palestinian liberation. However, this is not rational for various reasons as well, two being:
- Indigenous Palestinians, in spite of their pluralistic, diverse Faith background — whether they are Muslims, Jews (non- occupiers) or Christians — are Semitic people
- Many Jewish people and Jewish organizations are also critical of Israel. It is irrational to label such individuals as anti-Semitic, when they themselves are Jewish people.
At City Hall, pro-Israeli leaders also sought to attribute the genocide to the militant group Hamas, which did not resonate well with individuals advocating for the sanctity of human life for several reasons. One being this militant group is not present in the leadership of the West Bank, where more than 400 people have been massacred since Oct. 7th.
Neutrality no answer
Pro-Palestine activists also emphasized that, hypothetically, if there were militants in a hospital or a school in Peoria, would it be rational to level those entire places with bombs, killing everyone inside, or would there be strategic operations to eliminate the threat? They further argued that the intent of Israel since its inception has always been to annex land and commit genocide against the indigenous Palestinian population.
The Peoria City Council has yet to pass a ceasefire resolution, unlike dozens of other cities across the United States that have already done so. As Madam Mayor Rita Ali stated, “We must be neutral, yet compassionate, in this matter.”
Pro-Palestinian activists emphasized that maintaining neutrality on a ceasefire equates to complicity, as Justin Leuba expressed, “This is why we have to say ‘No! Not in my name, and not with my money.’ Refusing to call for a ceasefire amounts to a total abdication of moral courage, a rejection of equality, justice, and anything one could call God.”
In conclusion, I would like to echo the words of civil rights leader Desmond Tutu, who stated, “If you are neutral in situations of injustice, you have chosen the side of the oppressor.”
The call for a ceasefire in Gaza is not merely a moral imperative but a test of our commitment to justice and humanity, resonating with the timeless principles of equality, justice, and compassion.
— Imam Mazhar Mahmood serves as the President of Peoria for Palestine and can be found on various social media platforms as “Imam Mazhar Mahmood.” You may reach out to him via email at: imam@imammazhar.com.