Urge Newark City Council to pass a Ceasefire Resolution NOW!

Started by: Rutgers Alumni & New Jersey 4 Palestine

Today, we reach out to you with a crucial and urgent call to action that demands our collective attention and commitment. We urge you to join us in signing this petition, compelling Newark City Council to pass a Ceasefire Resolution NOW and take a decisive stand against the ongoing genocide in Gaza. The heartbreaking reality is that more than a thousand family members of our fellow New Jersey residents have lost their lives in Gaza and the West Bank in recent months. We ask you to watch the deeply moving story of Noreen Rashid, a Newark resident, who tragically lost her young cousins and other family members outside their home in Gaza. Their stories remind us of the human toll this genocide is taking on our community.

Unfortunately, the genocide in Gaza has not only claimed innocent lives but has also ignited a surge in anti-Arab, anti-Muslim, and anti-Palestinian hate throughout our state, including our beloved Newark. Instead of addressing this issue, our elected officials have perpetuated the problem through their troubling silence. While Essex County local officials have expressed support for a Ceasefire, Newark and other municipalities in the county have yet to pass a Ceasefire Resolution. To date, 48 Ceasefire Resolutions have been successfully passed across 19 states, with three municipalities in New Jersey already taking a stand. Chicago, a city comparable in size and significance to Newark, recently passed a Ceasefire Resolution in January 2024.

Now is the time for Newark to rise to the occasion and represent its constituents with compassion, empathy, and a commitment to peace and justice. A recent Data for Progress poll underscores the urgency of this matter, revealing that 80% of registered Democrats support a Ceasefire. Moreover, 61% of potential Democratic primary voters have expressed a willingness to support a pro-Ceasefire candidate.

As proud Newark residents, we implore you to condemn the senseless killing of innocent Palestinians and take a stand for justice by signing and sharing this petition. Let us unite our voices and make Newark the 49th and largest city in New Jersey to officially pass a Ceasefire Resolution NOW and call for an end to the genocide in Gaza. Together, we have the power to make a difference. Let's join hands and ensure that Newark becomes a beacon of hope and compassion. 

Please sign the petition and join the greater Newark & New Jersey community on February 7, 2024, at 11:15 to march alongside Newark residents, students, faculty, staff, & alums to tell the Newark City Council: we want a Ceasefire Resolution NOW!