Rally Middletown sent out a press release about the latest meeting. It has been published below in full:
For the seventh consecutive Common Council meeting, community members gathered at Middletown City Hall, urging local representatives to pass a strong ceasefire resolution.
Building on the momentum of the previous meeting, the community showed unwavering support, with a strong turnout of over two dozen individuals and a robust public comment session that lasted over an hour, underscoring the community's enduring dedication to the cause.
One advocate who spoke, Carol Strauss Sotiropoulos, stated, “We cannot look away. Recognition of what is taking place makes it incumbent on us all to take whatever action we can. My relatives in Israel plead with me, please, we are all suffering from Israel's siege. As Jews we feel this obligation most acutely. Please be aware that Zionism is a political ideology, it does not represent Judaism and Jewish values.”
While one council member stated they had already heard their constituents by passing a recent resolution, participants were quick to correct the fact that the resolution that passed did not include any verbiage for a ceasefire or arms embargo to protect Palestinian and Israeli lives.
Alderman Jerry Kleiner stated, “We passed a resolution supporting global peace in the world and asking for the unconditional release of all the hostages, but that’s not going to happen without a ceasefire.”
While city residents were disappointed that more council members didn’t vocalize their support, participants left motivated knowing that there is still a window to pass a stronger resolution.
Following the meeting, advocate and organizer Amanda Krump stated, “President Biden recently threatened to impose an arms embargo on Israel if they did not ensure humanitarian aid to enter Gaza within thirty days. Despite multiple human rights organizations confirming Israel hasn’t followed through with this request, the U.S. has still yet to act. We need to continue to pressure our government at every level.”
Middletown residents will continue to rally people in the city to show up to the upcoming meetings until a strong ceasefire resolution is passed. With the increased momentum of recent meetings, community members are confident a resolution will pass.
“I have never felt more resolute about the efforts we have taken to unify our city around a ceasefire to protect both Palestinian and Israeli lives,” said organizer, Jason Nietzschmann. “If those in positions of power refuse to act based on their own moral compass, we must persist in our efforts to persuade them to act in accordance with our shared values of justice and equality.”
Although the timeline for passing a strong resolution remains uncertain, one constant is clear: Middletown residents are unwavering in their commitment and will persist in making their voices heard.
Common Council Meetings are every other Tuesday. Contact Rally Middletown for media requests.
