Continued calls for a ceasefire resolution

Residents filled council chambers Monday night to once again demand that Cleveland City Council pass a resolution condemning Israel’s war on Gaza. Residents also continued to call out Mayor Justin Bibb for his one-sided support of Israel shortly after the Hamas attack on Oct. 7. 

Cleveland does not ‘stand with Israel,’ Mayor Bibb. When you say that Cleveland stands for Israel, you are just speaking for yourself.”

Basma Hamid, Ward 13 resident

Five of the 10 speakers identified as Jewish and shared their perspectives on supporting Palestinian people, even if it meant going against what they previously knew about Israel.

“There is no shame in realizing we’ve been told half a story. The shame is in refusing the whole story. […] It is not self-hatred to want freedom for Palestinians, and it is most definitely not anti-semitism to condemn Israel’s government,” said Robin Beth Schaer from Oberlin. 

Ward 15 resident Estelle Raskin also condemned City Council, saying that calling a push for a ceasefire antisemitic is “reprehensible.”

“How will you protect me from actual antisemitism when you are complicit in the perversion of that term? How will you protect your Palestinian, Arab and Muslim constituents from anti-Palestine hate and Islamophobia when speaking out for their own safety is construed as antisemitism?” said Raskin.

‘Think globally, act locally’

Josiah Quarles, of Northeast Ohio Coalition for the Homeless (NEOCH), asked City Council to “think globally and act locally.” 

Quarles said that the situation in Gaza is a very extreme example of the dehumanization we see of people across the globe, emphasizing the need to also support Clevelanders experiencing homelessness, including many families.

When we separate ourselves from the stranger, from someone living in a tent, someone facing eviction, we do both ourselves, that individual and our entire community a disservice.

Josiah Quarles, Northeast Ohio Coalition for the Homeless (NEOCH)

Dennis Ashton also spoke on behalf of NEOCH, drawing attention to the number of tents throughout Cleveland and the lack of shelters and housing available. He said that while money is available, it’s tied up in the city.

At the end of public comment, the gallery erupted with chants from people demanding that City Council pass a resolution calling for a ceasefire. Council President Blaine Griffin ordered the council to continue the meeting as the demonstrations continued. About halfway through the clerk reading the emergency ordinances, the chanting ceased.

Ward 17 Council Member Charles Slife requested that the legislation be made available to those who couldn’t hear what was being read. On Wednesday, City Council posted a new version of the video on its YouTube channel with the legislation.

Passed legislation

City Council passed four emergency ordinances to: 

• Approve money to support victims of sexual assault under the STOP Violence Against Women Act 
• Approve the city applying for and accepting gifts, grants or loans for infrastructure the Bedrock Development Project’s Cleveland Riverfront Master Plan to redevelop the riverfront area on the eastern bank of the Cuyahoga River
• Approve the demolition of Eagle Avenue bridge and authorize the city to apply for grants from the U.S. Department of Transportation to overhaul parts of I-90.

Tabled legislation

City Council voted on legislation to “table,” meaning it won’t be considered or voted on by council, though it can be re-introduced. Some of the legislation referenced former Cleveland Mayor Frank Jackson’s administration even though he’s been out of office for two years.

Examples of the tabled legislation include modifying ordinances related to tree removal, designating a day to celebrate the history of League Park and the Negro Baseball League and changing the name of E.J. Kovacic Recreation Center to Muhammad Ali Recreation Center.

Thirteen city council members approved tabling the legislation. Ward 7 Council Member Stephanie Howse-Jones was the only one to vote against tabling the legislation.

Read more from Documenter Timothy Zelina:

Read the live-tweet thread from Documenter Chau Tang:

Good Evening Cleveland!! Here to live-tweet the Cleveland City Council Meeting for #CLEDocumenters@signalcleveland@cledocumenters

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