NEW YORK-UNS: Dozens of constituents and community organizations showed up to Council Member Shekar Krishan’s office in Jackson Heights and Council Member Francisco Moya’s office in Corona to demand that they call for a ceasefire in Gaza now. The Israeli military has killed nearly 30,000 Palestinians, 13,000 of them children, and is now targeting the one and a half million people who are crowded into Rafah.
Constituents called on their Council Members to join fourteen of their colleagues in the Council who have already called for a ceasefire, recognizing the leadership role our city plays nationwide and sending a message to our representatives in Congress and to this Presidential administration. Every year, an estimated $118,929,729 of New York City residents’ federal taxpayer dollars goes to the US government’s military funding of Israel, according to the US Campaign for Palestinian Rights. These Council Members understand that what is happening in Gaza is a local issue: our public institutions like CUNY are pressured to silence voices speaking up for Palestine, local elected officials – including Council Member Moya in 2018 – accept paid trips to Israel, and our state gives tax breaks to non profits organizations that fund illegal Israeli settlements.
This follows months of actions by the Queens 6th District Ceasefire Coalition calling on Congresswoman Meng to join the ceasefire resolution in Congress, delivering a petition, rallying, praying at her office, and demanding a town hall which was rejected in place of a closed 30 minute webinar. Constituents have repeatedly called on Council Member Krishnan and Council Member Moya to show principle as elected leaders within the 6th Congressional District. Yet, both Council Members have refused to call for ceasefire despite the fact that at least 69 members of Congress and 69 local councils have passed ceasefire resolutions around the country – including localities in NY like Albany and Newburgh City, and major cities around the country including Chicago, Atlanta, Durham, San Francisco, and Oakland. As of today, Congressman Nadler, Congressman Goldman and Congressman Raskin further urged the Biden Administration to facilitate a ceasefire in Gaza.
The Council Members have been invited to join a vigil and reading of the names planned for City Hall Park ahead of the February 28th City Council stated meeting.
