Baltimore City Council fails to adopt resolution condemning Hamas
The Baltimore City Council failed to adopt a resolution condemning Hamas, moments after pro-Palestinian protestors interrupted the meeting.All but four councilmembers voted in favor of the resolution officially condemning the terrorist organization.Read the full text of the resolution here.Those who abstained were Kristerfer Burnett, Ryan Dorsey, Phylicia Porter and Odette Ramos.Before the vote, protestors, calling for a cease-fire in the Israel-Hamas war, shouted, “Free, free Palestine!” The group was then calmly escorted out of the chambers.Councilman Yitzy Schleifer called the situation deeply disappointing.”It’s painful and horrifying as we hear protesters, including right here in the council chambers, using the Hamas slogans that call for the extermination and destruction of Jews,” Schleifer said.It’s unclear exactly which slogan Schleifer was referring to, but some popular pro-Palestine slogans have been interpreted to be antisemitic. Councilman John Bullock explained his vote.”Just like the state of Israel deserves to exist in terms of people for self-determination, that also needs to exist for the people of Palestine as well. So yes, I do support this resolution, but at the same time, understand the full context and complexity of this issue that has been long-standing throughout the decades,” he said.Councilman Zeke Cohen said he has family fighting in Israel.”For me, it’s always an opportunity for us, as a city, to condemn all forms of bigotry, whether that is antisemitism, islamophobia (or) racism. (It’s) a little disappointing this resolution did not pass,” Cohen said.
The Baltimore City Council failed to adopt a resolution condemning Hamas, moments after pro-Palestinian protestors interrupted the meeting.
All but four councilmembers voted in favor of the resolution officially condemning the terrorist organization.
Read the full text of the resolution here.
Those who abstained were Kristerfer Burnett, Ryan Dorsey, Phylicia Porter and Odette Ramos.
Before the vote, protestors, calling for a cease-fire in the Israel-Hamas war, shouted, “Free, free Palestine!” The group was then calmly escorted out of the chambers.
Councilman Yitzy Schleifer called the situation deeply disappointing.
“It’s painful and horrifying as we hear protesters, including right here in the council chambers, using the Hamas slogans that call for the extermination and destruction of Jews,” Schleifer said.
It’s unclear exactly which slogan Schleifer was referring to, but some popular pro-Palestine slogans have been interpreted to be antisemitic.
Councilman John Bullock explained his vote.
“Just like the state of Israel deserves to exist in terms of people for self-determination, that also needs to exist for the people of Palestine as well. So yes, I do support this resolution, but at the same time, understand the full context and complexity of this issue that has been long-standing throughout the decades,” he said.
Councilman Zeke Cohen said he has family fighting in Israel.
“For me, it’s always an opportunity for us, as a city, to condemn all forms of bigotry, whether that is antisemitism, islamophobia (or) racism. (It’s) a little disappointing this resolution did not pass,” Cohen said.
