The Hastings City Council unanimously passed a resolution calling for a ceasefire in Gaza during its Jan. 16 meeting.
According to a city memo explaining the resolution, on Jan. 5 the city “received a proposed resolution calling for a cease fire and humanitarian aid in Gaza along with a list of names who supported a ‘change.org’ petition.”
The resolution was added to the council’s agenda by Council Member Angie Haus, the memo says, and was referenced during the public comment portion of the City Council meeting.
The Change.org petition was launched by resident Tom Bullington. “The members of Hastings Progressives are calling on the Hastings City Council to adopt a formal resolution at its January 15, 2024 council meeting calling for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza,” the petition reads.
The petition, which was signed by just over 100 people, alleges that Hastings taxpayers contributed $321,021 to the Israeli military in 2023.
“I’m thankful for all the community members who have come out to hold us accountable to our power. We have voices and it’s incredibly important for us to stand up for what is right,” said Ward 2 Council Member Jen Fox, who moved to adopt the resolution.
Another council member said she was horrified by the number of casualties in the ongoing conflict between Israel and the terrorist organization Hamas.
“It’s just horrifying when you look at the statistics about the number of people who are being killed in Gaza, not to mention the vast majority are children and women who are being killed as civilians,” said Ward 1 Council Member Tina Folch.
“It’s really important for us to stop genocide when we see it and to call it as it is,” Haus, an at-large member of the council, said before the vote.
The motion was passed unanimously after just a few minutes of discussion.
“All human life is precious, and the targeting of civilians, no matter their faith or ethnicity, is a violation of international humanitarian law,” the resolution states, referencing a United Nations vote in support of a ceasefire.
“Hundreds of thousands of lives are at imminent risk if a ceasefire is not achieved,” the resolution adds.
It concludes by urging Minnesota’s congressional delegation to pressure the Biden administration into supporting “de-escalation and a ceasefire.”
“The City of Hastings, Minnesota supports all of its residents and condemns all forms of racism, bigotry, and discrimination,” it says.
The Minneapolis City Council is also expected to take up a resolution calling for a ceasefire in the coming days.
Hayley Feland
Hayley Feland previously worked as a journalist with The Minnesota Sun, The Wisconsin Daily Star, and The College Fix. She is a Minnesota native with a passion for politics and journalism.
