The Portland City Council voted unanimously Wednesday in support of a resolution calling for an immediate ceasefire in the ongoing conflict between Israel and Gaza.
Following the attack on Israel by the Islamist militant organization Hamas on Oct. 7 which claimed the lives of over 1,200 Israelis, Israel has engaged in an ongoing bombardment and ground invasion of the Gaza Strip in an effort to eliminate Hamas.
The Hamas-controlled Gaza Ministry of Health — the only official source for Palestinian causalities in Gaza — has claimed that the number of Palestinians killed in Gaza since Oct. 7 is more than 22,000.
[RELATED: Pro-Palestine Protestors Once Again Target One of Maine’s Largest Blue-Collar Employers…]
The City Council resolution urges President Joe Biden and Congress “to demand an immediate ceasefire to urgently end the violence in Gaza and Israel.”
A copy of the resolution will be sent to the offices of all members of Maine’s congressional delegation and President Biden, calling upon them to “take immediate action and use their position and influence to end violence.”
[RELATED: Maine Senators Join Bipartisan Resolution Condemning Hamas’ Use of Rape in Oct 7 Attack on Israel…]
Councilor At-Large Pious Ali, the sponsor of the ceasefire resolution, introduced amendments during Wednesday’s City Council meeting adding language calling for the “unconditional release of hostages” and the “creation of passage for relief.”
Sally Bowden-Schaible, a psychotherapist and activist with Healthcare Workers for Palestine and Maine Voices for Palestinian Rights, spoke in favor of the resolution during public comment.
“The mainstream media place responsibility for the awful violence in Gaza on Hamas alone,” Bowden-Schaible said. “Israel and the U.S. control the narrative, and while the violence perpetrated by Hamas in Israel cannot and should not be condoned, the cycle of violence did not begin on October 7th.”
“The genocide being perpetrated in Gaza by Israel, and supported by the U.S., is nothing short of inhumane, morally corrupt, and dangerously unwise,” she said.
Tyler Redskye, who works with “restorative justice” organization Youth Led Justice, and is described on the organization’s website as a “queer non-binary trans settler,” also spoke in favor of the resolution Wednesday.
“To look at October 7th and blame Palestinians for what happened, for 75 years, and call it a conflict, and call it complicated, is the same mechanism that allowed us to have enslavement, that allowed us to have genocide on indigenous peoples, that allow us to see ten times the rate of punishment for BIPOC youth than white youth face,” Redskye said.
“[Israel] is a colonial project, and the people will not stand for it,” Redskye said. “We will remember who stands with us, or against us.”
Bobbi Cope, one of the speakers who commented in opposition to the resolution, began her comments by clarifying that the resolution makes no mention of Hamas.
“No ceasefire can be achieved without first condemning Hamas, and disbanding Hamas from power,” Cope said. “And second, the unconditional and safe release of all hostages.”
“The Israeli army is waging a war for survival, for the very existence of their very small nation,” she said. “They have one goal, with no other agenda. That goal is to eliminate the terrorist group Hamas, the perpetrators, whose primary goal is Jewish genocide.”
When another speaker expressed her opposition to the resolution, a commotion on the upper level of the Council Chambers caused Mayor Mark Dion to ask for an officer to be sent upstairs.
“Can we have an officer go upstairs, cause obviously they don’t understand English, I’ve said it more than once, if you continue that way you probably–” Dion said before being cut off by an outburst from upper level.
The mayor had to continuously ask attendees throughout the meeting to remain quiet during and after public comment, and to refrain from clapping or snapping their fingers in support of certain speakers.
Dion later apologized for his statement, saying that he was “in error making the comment, ‘do you speak English?’ — it was out of line, and I extend my public apology for having expressed that.”
“I guess I still have a lot of work to do as a person, and some things come out, and I appreciate being called on it,” Dion said.
“I’m old school, trying to learn what I should do moving forward, to more effectively represent all of you,” he added. “And I think part of that is to admit when I’m wrong, so I do so tonight, and I hope you accept my sincere apology for having done so.”
During discussion on the resolution, City Councilor At-Large Roberto Rodriguez said the resolution is important because it is for the Council “to have a voice on issues that perhaps we don’t have an opportunity to take action.”
“But important is also, is that we get to document history, we get to document our perception and acknowledgment of current situations,” Rodriguez said. “And with these amendments, we have a more accurate portrayal of what is happening in the world.”
Councilor Victoria Pelletier also spoke in support of the resolution, saying “it’s ‘free Palestine’ all day every day for me.”
“Black people and Palestinians have a shared history of trauma, and oppression, and genocide, and anti-blackness,” Pelletier said.
Following discussion, the Council voted unanimously to adopt Councilor Ali’s proposed amendments and to pass the resolution.
Read the full ceasefire resolution passed by the Portland City Council below:
A Sharia-compliant Muslim, Pious Ali, and all the other dimwits on the council voted in favor of this resolution? I am totally shocked! It has as about much substance to it as SB trying to remove Trump from the ballot. What a laughing stock our city and state elected officials have become!
Btw, it’s likely Dion’s comment about spectators not being able to speak English could likely be at least half of those attending.
How about a “Nuclear Free Zone” declaration, if one doesn’t already exist? Keep the stupidity coming!
What about a “declaration” on recent events of Christians being massacred in Nigeria? The followers of the religion of peace slaughtered over 200 people. Where’s the outrage from Portland’s city counsel for that? Boy, what a bunch of stupid retards.
This clown show couldn’t get a street light fixed in Portland and spends countless time and hours on a resolution calling for ceasefire and prisoner swaps in Israel. Ironic that a license which had been tabled since August had to be tabled again because no one got to it. Just another episode of Ali needing to hear his name.from his Ivory Tower at the Pearl St Avesta Palace .
How about sending all of the monkeys back to Africa.
“The Portland City Council voted unanimously Monday in support of a resolution calling for an immediate ceasefire in the ongoing conflict between Israel and Gaza.”
😂🤣😂🤣😂
I agree with the cease fire! Just as soon as Israel wipes out all the Hamas, Hezbollah, Houthi’s and others they think might be associated with them, THEN cease firing! I guess that would include Iran! AND as a side note – We now have two cities that are controlled by muslims – What is wrong with us – Sharia is NOT compatible with our constitution and laws!
In the same meeting the council also denounced the color of the sky as blue since it is widely known as the preferred color of colonists. Record # of people living on the streets, out of control drug epidemic, crumbling infrastructure and these morons waste time fiddling. You deserve this Portland.
Well, that fixed it.
World peace brought to you by the super brains of the Portland Maine City Council. Who knew it would be that easy.
Who cares in any manner what this semi-organized group of morons has to say about anything anyway? They have completely destroyed the City of Portland and have less than zero effect on anything in Gaza. This is nothing but a virtue signaling publicity stunt that will go nowhere.
Other than divide people and piss them off, why does a city need to comment on this? Did they vote also to condem the hamas gang rape of women and children and microwaving innocent babies? I find liberals and democrats, in general, to be childish and thought limited at best, and truly evil at worst.
Other than divide people and piss them off, why does a city need to comment on this? Did they vote also to condem the hamas gang rape of women and children and microwaving innocent babies?
I find liberals and democrats, in general, to be childish and thought limited at best, and truly evil at worst.
Oh my…watching our fair city of Portland crumble is so sad. This is so ridiculous as well as sad. I’ve lived in Maine for over 50 years–longer than anywhere else–but now in my advanced years I’m wondering if there is a place left that hasn’t lost common sense. Maybe eventually Argentina…but I’ll be long gone before they clear out their corrupt dead-hand mess completely.
Happy New Year everyone…let’s hope that 2024 isn’t as FUBAR as it seems to be headed.
Let the clown show continue. Wasting time with this nonsense is a real slap in the face to people who have legitimate city business before the council. Liberals are always trying to stick their noses in other people’s business.
What a colossal waste of time and money. Democrats in action.
Hope this illness does not spread to the suburbs. The time is close for the sane to right the ship.
Why does Dion feel he has to apologize to the invaders in the room?!? Can’t anybody represent White people anymore?!
I’ll have to read the official release again, because I missed one important thing. But maybe one of you readers can help me.
What provision in the City Charter was cited to demonstrate that the City Council and Mayor are authorized to speak for the citizenry in a published document on matters of state, national, and international political situations? Surely they can cite that language, can’t they?
Or is it being done under the unwritten but always in effect obligation of virtue signaling and pandering?
Long live Obama’s “post-racial” society! Just imagine how much more post-racial we’ll become when the nearly ten million “new Americans” of recent arrival settle in and demand their tribute for any number of factors?
Ohhh puke! Stupid people in action make me gag. Late night comedy anyone 🤣
When we arrived in Maine fifty years ago parts of PWM were tough, fishing and working areas. Now the place is less fishing and less working with lots more layabouts ripping off the tax payers and panhandling. We have not set foot in down town Portland for four years and will avoid going there in the future.
As a PROUD member of Maine DSA (Democratic Socialists of America), I am happy to say that Portland is on the right side of history. We put enough pressure on them to take the side of Gaza and against the Western Colonization. Revolution will happen everywhere soon. Portland Maine is ours now.
Connor, you can’t conduct a “Revolution” from your parents’ basement.
MAGA stands in solidarity with Palestine!
All Gentiles have a shared history of genocide and ethnic cleansing at the hands of the inbred savage jews.
israel is not a legitimate nation. It is a delusional incestuous generational inheritance claim to a greater apartheid israel for the descendants of the so called 12 tribes (children) of Jacob.
The jews mass murder campaign in Gaza is meant to assist in the continued border expansion of their incestuous heritage claim from the river in Egypt to the Euphrates river (Iraq) as promised to them by their inbred idols beginning in the book of Genesis.
If one is to take Genesis as a serious land claim then the lands belong to the descendants of Ishmael and Esau not Isaac and Jacob as property traditionally is passed to the eldest son and Jacob obtained his inheritance and blessing through fraudulent means.
Incestuous land grab: Genesis 12-50
Abram 12:1 – 25:8
Isaac 21:1 – 35:29
Jacob 25:21 – 50:14
Joseph 30:22 – 50:26
P.S
@ Connor, you’re a total dweeb. The take back of Palestine is not a socialist movement. What a tool. The Muslims that practice their faith will most likely chop off your infidel head.
Wow; looks like the PPH comment trolls have decided to move to The Maine Wire.
What can that possibly portend, other than continued expansion of Obama’s post-racial utopia?
@Red, you are a typical MAGA fool. The Free Palestine/Hamas movement against Israel is absolutely a Socialist /Marxist movement. It’s an Ally against the Imperial Western Nations that propped Israel up. We ALL support the De-Colonization effort against the West and against Whiteness. There is a reason that we stand in solidarity. The only reason a few MAGA-tards support Palestine is cause they are racist against Jews. Socialists do not care about the religion/race/jewish issue. Our entire motive and goal is to dismantle Israel or to put into power a more Socialist and Equitable regime that will no longer benefit the Oppressing Colonialists.
Can you be “trans”, “non-binary”, and “queer” all at the same time? Seems like some of that would be mutually exclusive.
@Jack, this is how I know we have won. We’re taking over your country and you’re still trying to figure out how to insult trans, non-binary, and queer people. We throw a ball of chaos into the culture and the boomer republicans chase it like a dog. Bark! Good dog! You lost.
This is Portland, what else needs to be said. Officials there will get on board with every nutty idea that comes down the road.Hard to believe that filthy place is still a part of the real state of Maine. The rest of us north of that place, have nothing in common with them. Bellows, who does NOT answer to the people, took it upon herself to tell us who we can vote for and who we can’t. America’s Founders would be horrified to see the actions of that silly little partisan twit. Just WHO made her queen for the day? She is totally disgusting
…..”PROUD member of Maine DSA (Democratic Socialists of America)”…..
Under Xi Jinping, the Chinese Communist Party styles itself as a socialist democracy. “socialist” is just another lighter word for describing communists. I expect any day now to see the Hammer and Sickle flag flying over the Portland City Hall. If you have ever read any history…..which is pretty clear that you haven’t, communism ALWAYS ends with mass starvation and murders of millions. Stalin, Mao, Pol Pot and many others have demonstrated that to anyone who can read and learn.
There are northwards of 500 million firearms in the hands of civilians in the United States. Most of them are in the hands of conservatives who don’t live in cesspools like Portland. Communist revolutions have never taken over a country with such a heavily armed population. Communist governments like it when the government owns ALL the guns and the people have none. They citizens are much easier to control and administer the “final solution” to when desired. I think your little “revolution” can take over and control Portland. That would be easy as many there think just like you. But sooner or later you are going to have to come after the rest of us and there is where your “revolution” you like to brag about is going to meet it’s match.
Under Xi Jinping, the Chinese Communist Party styles itself as a socialist democracy. “
Like Portland has a say in Israel’s existence, most of Maine doesn’t agree with anything Portland does! I for one do no business in Portland, don’t go there don’t stop don’t buy there, it can fall into the bay for all I care, the old saying stupid is as stupid does fits. Not one arab country would take the Palestinians, not one. Israel gave them what they have, they supply the electricity, and the thanks is constant rockets being fired into Israel! Portland council is as stupid as those speaking in favor are illiterate and/or ignorant! Nobody cares, nobody cares what the Mills regime says!