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Por tercera vez, Estados Unidos vetó una resolución del UN Security Council presentada por Argelia que pondría fin a la guerra en Gaza, en la que se pedía “un alto el fuego inmediato”.

Con 13 votos a favor, una abstención de Reino Unido y el voto en contra de Estados Unidos, la resolución no fue favorable al tener EE. UU.  derecho de veto por su condición de miembro permanente (junto a Rusia, China, Francia y Reino Unido). 

Linda Thomas-Greenfield, embajadora estadounidense, justificó su voto subrayando que “pone en peligro las delicadas negociaciones” en curso, por lo que proceder hoy al voto era “irresponsable”.

En su oportunidad, el representante de Israel, Gilad Erdan, señaló que “Israel también busca un alto el fuego. Pero solo hay una fórmula que aceptaremos: todos nuestros rehenes tienen que ser liberados y Hamás tiene que rendirse”.

Mientras que el embajador de Palestina, Riyad Mansour, aseguró que “la llamada a un alto el fuego en Gaza debería haberse acordado hace mucho tiempo”

“¿Qué umbral debe cruzarse para que este Consejo finalmente exija un alto el fuego?”, cuestionó.

El borrador de la resolución llamaba a un alto al fuego humanitario inmediato, así como la liberación inmediata e incondicional de todos los rehenes, además de acceso humanitario sin restricciones.

Los países que votaron a favor de la resolución fueron: China, Francia, Rusia, Argelia, Ecuador, Guyana, Japón, Malta, Mozambique, Republica de Corea, Sierra Leona, Eslovenia y Suiza.

Estados Unidos propuso una resolución alternativa que llama a un alto al fuego temporal y que se opone a una ofensiva terrestre de Israel en Rafah, basada en que todos los rehenes sean liberados.

Esta resolución junto con Egipto y Catar, busca una pausa de seis semanas en los combates, “y creemos que esta resolución (argelina) podría impactar negativamente en esas negociaciones (…) y podría alargar los combates entre Hamás e Israel”, dijo la embajadora de Estados Unidos Linda Thomas-Greenfield.

“Creemos que la resolución sobre la mesa tendría un impacto negativo en las negociaciones. Demandar un alto el fuego inmediato, sin exigir a Hamás que libere a los rehenes no traerá una paz duradera”, detalló.

Desde que comenzó la guerra en Gaza, Estados Unidos ha vetado tres resoluciones en pro del fin al fuego en la Franja: la primera de ellas en Brasil el 18 de octubre, donde pidió a Israel “pausas humanitarias” en Gaza; la segunda el 8 de diciembre, a una resolución presentada por Emiratos Árabes donde se demandaba alto el fuego inmediato.

El resultado de la votación de hoy “demuestra que en el tema de un alto el fuego en Gaza, queda claro que no es que el Consejo de Seguridad no presenta un consenso aplastante (en su favor), sino que el veto de Estados Unidos es el que anula ese consenso”, lamentó el embajador chino, Zhang Jun.

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Mexican Foreign Minister Alicia Bárcena expressed her deepest condolences to the family and friends of Elizabeth “Lisa” López-Galván, the woman of Mexican descent who lost her life in the shooting during the Kansas City Chiefs victory parade.

The head of the Mexican Ministry of Foreign Affairs confirmed and detailed that, so far, “there are 21 people injured […] They have not given us the names of those who are in the hospital, but we are very attentive at the Mexican consulate in Kansas, to care for the family and support them in everything they require.”

López Galván was a beloved radio host and the daughter of a Mexican-born mariachi. In addition to her death, one of her sons and her nephews were wounded by bullets.

The celebration of the Kansas City Chiefs' victory after lifting the NFL's Vince Lombardi award was a must for López Galván, who was a fan of the team, so she went to Union Station with the idea of having fun, however, she was murdered in what the police classified as a fight.

Kansas City police confirmed the shooting was a dispute between several people, including two juveniles. They did not release names although the suspects are in custody.

“Preliminary results of the investigation have shown that there was no connection to terrorism or domestic violent extremism. This appeared to be a dispute between several individuals that resulted in gunfire,” Kansas City Police Chief Stacey Graves said at a press conference.

Likewise, he confirmed that during the night of this Wednesday it was learned that there were 23 victims of the shooting, one of them, Elizabeth López Galván, 43 years old, “we are still learning about her, but we know that she is very loved by many. To her friends and family: we are with you,” he stressed.

In light of the events, he said that work is being done "tirelessly" to clarify the murder.

Graves said the 22 victims ranged in age from 8 to 47. He said at least half of the victims were under 16 years old. 

“As we mentioned yesterday, we have detained individuals, two of whom are minors. We are working to determine the involvement of others. And it should be noted that we have recovered several firearms,” he added.

President Joseph Biden seized the opportunity after the shooting at the Kansas City Chiefs parade to again call for a ban on “assault weapons.”

“Today’s events should shock, awe and embarrass us into action,” Biden said.

“Make your voice heard in Congress so we can finally act to ban assault weapons, limit high-capacity magazines, strengthen background checks, and keep guns out of the hands of those who have no business owning or handling them,” he added.

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By Jeannine Chiang. Ethnic Media Services.

“You’re Korean, right? I mean, you don’t look very Chinese. That’s a compliment, by the way,” my classmate said with a chuckle, nudging her friend. I had recently transferred to a new, mostly white high school.

I soon realized that this was not going to be an easy transition.

I remember the intense sidelong glances as the children around me turned their heads and looked down at the jade pendant my grandmother gave me for good luck. 

This was shortly after schools reopened following the pandemic shutdown, and terms like “kung flu” were still floating around school hallways. It seemed to me that even here in the Bay Area, where Asians make up a large percentage of the population, being Chinese — or even just looking Chinese — was like having a target on your back.

Growing up in Millbrae, a small, Asian-majority suburb just south of San Francisco, I never felt out of place. There were a few occasions when a classmate would insist that “this is America” and that I should speak English, but those experiences were few and far between.

It was when my family moved to the South and I enrolled in a new, predominantly white high school that I began to understand for the first time that, in order to fit in among my new peers, I would have to “Americanize” my identity.

The challenges began in the cafeteria. I would hear my classmates comment on my lunch box, which often contained homemade dumplings and stir-fried noodles. The ritual of each day’s lunch was a reminder that I was different, like an outsider wearing a distinctive cultural badge.

I felt self-conscious and eventually asked my mom to make peanut butter and jelly sandwiches. The sugary, fruity snack eventually became my new normal.

Constantly negotiating my identity was a manifestation of my struggle to fit in and be accepted. I realized I was trying to cover up the parts of my culture that might seem “too different.” My native language became a clandestine code that I whispered quietly to avoid further alienation.

I hid my ancestry for fear that its vivid hues would contrast with the dull tone of my surroundings. And I wasn't alone. A study last year found that 1 in 5 Asians tries to hide parts of his identity to adapt to it.

For me, that struggle became a mental war that I fought silently, grappling – like most teenagers – with the desire to fit in while also trying to hold on to my cultural roots.

My mother was born in Hangzhou, China, and immigrated to California to attend college. And even though my brother and I were born in San Francisco, we spoke primarily Mandarin at home. As I grew older, I began to understand what my mother gave up by coming to America: her friends, her family, her culture. And now, here I was, trying to hide that culture from the other students around me at school.

I felt ashamed. But I still tried to fit in. I felt like a chameleon, always changing to fit the expectations of everyone around me, whether at home or at school.

I'm in high school now and when I talk to my international friends from China here, they share similar stories, about how other students address them because of their backgrounds or their accent, something they can't understand, or just hide in a lunch box. Instead of celebrating the richness of culture and experience they bring to the student body, they focus on those very traits.

Bullying is on the rise in the U.S.: 20 percent of students in kindergarten through 12th grade say they have been bullied at least once. Identity is often a contributing factor, with students singled out for nationality, ethnicity or gender.

In a diverse community like the Bay Area, it is crucial for schools to promote understanding and appreciation of different cultures, fostering an environment where everyone feels accepted and valued regardless of their accent or cultural background.

My experience reminds me that there is still work to be done in the fight against racism. It takes a group effort to eliminate prejudices, confront preconceived ideas and create an atmosphere where each person can flourish in their true selves.

But it also taught me to see my differences as a unique strength and not a weakness. By challenging dominant narratives, I found allies who supported me and ended the taboo surrounding the experiences of people who feel excluded.

By working together, we have created a school community that embraces diversity and fosters a more welcoming atmosphere for all. Rather than being a victim of prejudice, I am an example of the strength that comes from embracing one's individuality.

Jeannine Chiang is a high school student. She wrote this story for a special series examining the intersection of bullying and race in California led by EMS in partnership with California Ethnic Media, part of EMS's Stop the Hate initiative, made possible by funding from the California State Library in partnership with the California State Library Commission on Asian and Pacific Islander American Affairs. The views expressed on this website and other materials produced by EMS do not necessarily reflect the official policies of CSL, CAPIAA, or the California government.

This publication was supported in whole or part by funding provided by the State of California, administered by the CaliFornia State Library. 

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The dead in Gaza have The number of protesters has surpassed 28,000, and hundreds of organizations have declared their opposition to the support that the United States is giving to Israel to continue the war and deaths in Gaza. Therefore, the YUCA organization in East Palo Alto has joined the demands that call for an absolution and a ceasefire in Gaza.

In this regard, Manuel Ortiz conducted an interview with Ofelia Bello, who belongs to the organization YUCA (Youth United for Community Action), on the mobile unit of Península 360 Press, broadcast during the program Península 360 Radio in collaboration with Marcos Gutiérrez of «Hecho en California».

Ofelia Bello of YUCA (Youth United for Community Action), an organization that has joined in calling for a ceasefire in Gaza, where more than 28,000 people have died, spoke about the importance of joining the movement and demanding that the United States stop financially supporting the war in Gaza.

It all started with a small group of young people of color who were active in their communities and concerned about the problems in their environment. They formed YUCA. They then launched FIRE Fellowship, a program for young people of color that includes paid internships in community organizations working for environmental and social change in the Bay Area.

YUCA works for leadership development, community organizing and coalition building, This August marks the 30th anniversary of the organization, where thousands of young people have made a difference in the world and are currently working on housing justice in East Palo Alto, as well as environmental justice.

“We cannot escape what is happening in Gaza, because there is a Palestinian community in Redwood City, and we have learned that in Silicon Valley it is important because of the technology that is being used in Palestine, but also on the border with Mexico, for example, with the companies that generate technology to monitor“, he commented Ofelia Bello.

She says that the situation in Gaza directly affects communities, from the images circulating on social media showing how children, women and men, doctors and members of the press are suffering and being attacked and abused.

“That is an impact on people's mental health, especially young people, and that is something that is constantly being seen.“, he added Ofelia Bello.

On the night of Monday, February 12, there was a demonstration at the University of Stanford, Ofelia had the opportunity to be present, “they were there because, supposedly, the president of the university was going to meet with his administration to decide what they were going to do about support in Gaza.”

The aim is to involve the community in the issue, since it affects everyone directly or indirectly, so having the understanding of young people is essential, showing them that their voice has great value and that they are part of the country's delicate decisions. 

For Ofelia Bello, Stanford students have been raising their voices very loudly and demanding that the authorities pay attention to what is happening, questioning the connections, but also asking this university to withdraw its investments from the way it is supporting Israel.

"For us, the struggles we have here for housing justice, environmental justice, are connected to Gaza, if we see that our country continues to invest in wars, that is something totally opposite," Bello stressed.

Finally, he explained that there are many people who do not want to speak or express their voice, because they are afraid of receiving words or acts of aggression, that is why many hesitate to speak or really show themselves against the genocide in Gaza, but it must be reported that it is not a single voice, because organizations and media, as well as the population in general, are against the war and demand an end to these regrettable acts.

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