By Ruth Dusseault. Bay City News.
Fighting back tears as they spoke Tuesday, San Francisco Supervisors Dean Preston and Hillary Ronan introduced a resolution calling for a ceasefire in Gaza, joining the cities of Richmond and Oakland in publicly condemning the conflict.
The resolution calls for a sustained ceasefire, an influx of humanitarian aid, the release of all hostages and the condemnation of anti-Semitism, Islamophobia and anti-Palestinian hatred.
Since the Hamas attack on Oct. 7 that killed more than 1,200 Israelis, more than 15,000 Palestinians have been killed and an estimated 1.7 million have been displaced, according to the United Nations Relief and Works Agency.
Preston said he intended to add the city's voice to the chorus of international human rights and humanitarian organisations, countries, cities, trade unions and city residents calling for an end to the violence, destruction and death taking place abroad.
His performance was followed by 40 seconds of applause and cheers from a packed room. Audience members shouted, “You got it, Dean!” as he struggled to speak.
“Just this morning I heard from a Palestinian-American friend here in San Francisco who informed me…” Preston said, pausing to wipe away tears. “Seven more members of my family have been killed overnight, and at least 100 have already been killed since October 7. Meanwhile, Jews are still in shock because the October 7 massacre fulfilled the worst fears and nightmares of so many of us.”
Ronan was equally passionate.
“I must, I must! It is in my blood,” she said, recalling seeing the numbers tattooed on the forearm of her great-uncle as a child, who survived Auschwitz. “I must speak out against the overwhelming killing of innocent lives in Gaza, including nearly 7,000 children.”
“The resolution doesn’t actually condemn anyone,” said Samer Araabi of the Accountability Council, a nonprofit that helps small communities affected by international development projects. He spoke ahead of the meeting on behalf of the Arab Resource and Organizing Center.
“Ceasefires require a high degree of cooperation, so they lead to a kind of mutual trust-building process that allows for de-escalation,” said Araabi, who studied ceasefire dynamics at the London School of Economics.
Passionate public comments came from a variety of community groups and members of San Francisco’s Palestinian and Jewish community who wanted the resolution adopted. Many wore T-shirts reading “Cease Fire Now” and “Jews Say Stop.”
“When elected leaders join the call for peace, the city becomes safer for everyone,” said one Palestinian speaker.
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