Attendees hold signs supporting a ceasefire in Gaza and a Palestinian flag while another in the back holds a sign reading, "I stand with Israel."
(Lucas González, WFIU/WTIU News)
The Bloomington City Council is calling for a bilateral ceasefire in Gaza amid the ongoing Israel-Hamas war.
Council members unanimously approved a symbolic ceasefire resolution Wednesday following several weeks of public comments both for and against the action.
The resolution condemns actions by both Israel and Hamas and calls for humanitarian aid to Gaza, the immediate release of hostages, and a lasting solution to the conflict.
Council President Isabel Piedmont-Smith and Dave Rollo co-sponsored the resolution. Piedmont-Smith said she and Rollo were careful to craft the resolution in a way that seeks to not alienate anyone.
“After many conversations with Bloomington residents both in favor of and against a resolution, we decided to move ahead due to what we feel is a moral imperative to speak out about the manmade humanitarian catastrophe,” she said, reading from a council memo she and Rollo co-authored.
Council President Isabel Piedmont-Smith next to Hopi Stosberg. (Lucas González, WFIU/WTIU News)
The full memo can be read here:
Some attendees in support of Palestine said the resolution does not go far enough, while others who support Israel called it divisive. Others have said the council should not weigh in on the conflict.
Rollo said the resolution is sure to disappoint some but called it necessary.
“This is a humanitarian catastrophe, and it must be addressed,” Rollo said. “I don't expect a situation to get better without people speaking out. It's not going to get better on its own. To the extent that we can help avert this crisis, I feel compelled that we must speak out.”
Council member Dave Rollo. (Courtesy, Community Access Television Services)
In an email, Rollo told WFIU/WTIU News the council's concern is the humanitarian crisis that is "accelerating, involving the death of innocent civilians, women and children, the captivity of hostages, and conditions that may soon result in mass famine."
He added Bloomington is the first municipality in Indiana, to his knowledge, to pass such a resolution.
At the start of the meeting, council members requested members of the public be respectful of each other.
People in the chambers were mostly civil, with some exceptions. On two occasions, law enforcement removed someone from the council chambers for disrupting the meeting.
The meeting was at its most contentious when some attendees on Zoom commented hateful rhetoric. Those comments prompted a response from Mayor Kerry Thomson.
“I condemn all hate speech,” Thomson said, fighting back tears. “While I stand for freedom of speech, and we will always allow it in these council chambers, I’m here tonight to ask the people of Bloomington: When you hear hatred, when you hear Nazi speech (and) when you hear deliberate threats and condemnation of Black and Brown people, you do not need to say something perfectly; just stand up and say something.”
Bloomington Mayor Kerry Thomson. (Courtesy, Community Access Television Services)
The comments received condemnation from those on the council, including Sydney Zulich, the only Jewish member.
“In the case of white supremacy, anti-Jewishness and anti-Palestinian comments, it’s really easy to spew that kind of rhetoric without looking any other person in the eye, and without any of us being able to see your face,” Zulich said. “To all the people at home who are willing to say that, your cowardice is noted.”
Council member Sydney Zulich. (Courtesy, Community Access Television Services)
Thomson has said she won’t sign the resolution, or any others not directly impacting city business. State law requires Thomson to veto the resolution if she does not sign it.
When asked Wednesday if she will veto the resolution, Thomson told WFIU/WTIU News she likely will.
She added, “I’m going to think about it, but what we saw here tonight is an example of why I think we shouldn’t be spending our time this way.”
The council can override a mayoral veto with a two-thirds vote.
At least 48 other U.S. cities have passed ceasefire resolutions, according to Reuters.
