Many town and city councils have passed resolutions calling for a ceasefire in Gaza. These resolutions demonstrate many citizens' strong desires for a ceasefire, and they influence our officials in higher offices.  This petition urges Norfhfield, MN City Council to take a similar step.

As of February 21,  2024, over 1,100 people in Israel and nearly 30,00 people in Gaza have been killed  -- 2/3 of whom are women and children.  More than half the homes in Gaza have been destroyed or damaged; 392 education facilities (including all the universities) have been destroyed or damaged;  and only 1/3 of the hospitals are even partially functioning.  (Israel-Gaza war in maps and charts: Live tracker)

On February 20, 2024, the Biden Administration vetoed a ceasefire resolution brought before the UN Security Council.  This was the third such veto by the Biden Administration.

As the Biden Administration is not making calls for a ceasefire, it is up to us, at the local level, to make our voices heard.  Our collective voice is stronger that each of our individual voices.

Please join us in calling on the Northfield (MN) City Council to adopt the following ceasefire resolution at its March 12, 2024 meeting.

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If you are a Carleton or St. Olaf student, please sign with your Northfield address.  Thank you.

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Northfield, MN City Council Calls for a Permanent Ceasefire in Gaza

WHEREAS, the Northfield City Charter states that “One of our nation’s most cherished qualities is freedom”  and furthers states “Human freedom and human rights are indivisible. If anyone is denied equality, no one is free.”; [1]

WHEREAS, all human life is precious, and the targeting of civilians, no matter their faith or ethnicity, is a violation of international humanitarian law;

WHEREAS, the United Nations reports that more than 1,200 Israelis and more than 28,000 Palestinians in Gaza have been killed since Oct 7 and more than 75% (1,700,000) of the Palestinians in Gaza have been displaced from their homes;  [2]  

WHEREAS, the United Nations reports that Palestinians in Gaza are facing an “unparalleled humanitarian crisis” with thousands in the Gaza Strip on the brink of starvation; [3]  

WHEREAS, the U.S. Federal government holds immense diplomatic and appropriations power to save Palestinian and Israeli lives; [4]

WHEREAS, the U.S. government provides a minimum of $3.8 billion of military aid to the State of Israel each year;   

WHEREAS, the taxpayers of Northfield contribute, via the Federal appropriation, over $226,000 annually to the state of Israel and this money is now being used more than ever to fund violence against the Palestinian people; 

WHEREAS, this global violence has resulted in increased violence, antisemitism, islamophobia, xenophobia, and anti-Palestinian bigotry here and elsewhere;

WHEREAS, the Charter of the City of Northfield states “no person in the City of Northfield shall, on the grounds of age, race, color, creed, sex, religion, national origin, marital status or status with regard to public assistance or disability be subjected to discrimination in any form”.

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Northfield City Council  joins people of all faiths, major humanitarian organization and multiple U.S. city councils in urging the President of the United States and our U.S. and Minnesota  Congressional delegation to join us in calling for:

• An immediate and permanent ceasefire to end the current violence;
• The immediate transfer of aid to the Gaza Strip sufficient to sustain the livelihood of the Palestinians living there;

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Northfield City Council / Northfield Human Rights Commission share this document with the President of the United States and our Local and National elected officials.

[1]  https://www.northfieldmn.gov/DocumentCenter/View/8162/PART_I___NORTHFIELD_CITY_CHARTER?bidId=
[2]   https://www.ochaopt.org/
[3]   https://www.ohchr.org/en/press-releases/2024/01/over-one-hundred-days-war-israel-destroying-gazas-food-system-and
[4]   https://uscpr.org/activist-resource/us-military-funding-to-israel-map/