VALLEJO – Vallejo city councilmembers voted to draft a “neutral, humanitarian proclamation” on “the issue in the Middle East” after protesters calling for a ceasefire between Israel and Palestine disrupted Tuesday’s meeting, prompting police to clear the chambers.
The council voted 6-1 to proceed with the neutral proclamation, with Councilmember Peter Bregenzer opposed. The council is expected to vote on the proclamation on Jan. 23.
The council took up the issue after more than 100 people disrupted the council’s last meeting, demanding the council adopt a resolution calling for a ceasefire in Palestine. At Tuesday’s meeting, the council chamber was again full, this time with more than 200 people present. Approximately 72 people spoke during a public comment period that lasted over two hours.
Unlike the last meeting, this time a group of activists and community members in support of Israel attended holding signs with images of Israelis who were kidnapped during the Oct. 7 attack by the Palestinian leadership organization Hamas, which sparked Israel’s campaign in Gaza which has killed more than 18,000 people.
Supporters of a ceasefire filled most of the remaining seats, many of whom wore the Palestinian keffiyeh and held signs or a Palestinian flag.
Members of both sides cheered and supported speakers they favored and mocked or decried the statements of the opposing group.
Mayor Robert McConnell frequently banged his gavel and reprimanded the audience over the interruptions. At one point when the outbursts escalated, McConnell called for a recess. As the councilmembers exited, people of each side faced off, shouting accusations of doxxing and political insults.
Many of those who spoke in support of Israel said that the city council should focus on Vallejo’s problems rather than expending city resources on issues that are beyond the council's jurisdiction.
“The mandate of the city council is to take care of the business of Vallejo,” said Janet Leventhal. “Calling for a ceasefire at the first thought seems an obvious peaceful thing to do but it ignores the details. There is so much history that can’t be ignored in the Middle East. The Gaza-Israel war has already increased Islamophobia and anti-semitism in our country. Discussing a resolution will only increase hateful rhetoric in our community.”
But many ceasefire supporters who spoke at the meeting said they see the local resolutions as a way to put political pressure on federal officials to consider placing conditions on U.S. military aid to Israel.
Speaker Kerstin Svendsen noted that days ago, the United Nations Security Council voted in support of a ceasefire only to be blocked by a U.S. veto. “While you may think that little Vallejo has no influence over what our federal government does think about if all the cities across the country called for a ceasefire,” Svendsen said.
Vallejo would follow other cities who have called for a ceasefire. Richmond was the first city in the U.S. to issue a ceasefire resolution, followed by Oakland and several other cities.
Shiva Mishek, who is chief of staff to Richmond Mayor Eduardo Martinez, read a statement on his behalf at the meeting, in which he discussed protesting the wars in Vietnam, Iraq and Afghanistan.
“These protests did not mean that I support the Viet Cong or Al Qaeda, it did not mean that I was not mourning the terrorist attack on American civilians,” the statement said. “In both cases I operated on the same principle I do now – brutalizing a civilian population does not make anyone more safe. It creates trauma, it destroys societies and it radicalizes people, it kills innocent children.”
After closing the public comment period, councilmembers attempted to address the concerns of both sides.
“I grieve for all the innocent lives that are lost around the world,” Bregenzer said. But in our diverse community, that already faces many divisive issues and decisions that need to be made, I do not support, and think we shouldn’t continue to take political stances on any issue that is not within the city's purview.
Councilmember Mina Loera-Diaz said that she was struggling with her decision but would support a neutrally worded resolution. “It will not be exactly what folks from the Palestinian side want,” she said. “And it would not be what the folks from the Jewish community want.”
Vice Mayor Rozzana Verder-Aliga said it's not a simple issue because of the long complex history involved. “I empathize with both groups,” she said. “My concern is if we are to vote yes, it's going to upset the other group. If we vote no, it's going to upset the other group. So for me, it's a no win situation.”
Councilmember Cristina Arriola said that although she has been a supporter of Palestine since she was in high school, she cannot support the resolution because it is taking up too much time at the council meetings. She said there are many problems in her South Vallejo district that the city could more directly address. “If this goes through we are going to see another long drawn out night,” she said.
Councilmembers Charles Palmares and Diosdado “J.R.” Matulac indicated that they could get behind a proclamation with neutral wording.
McConnell said that at least three council members were interested in some form of resolution. “Is there anybody else interested in supporting a strictly worded, very neutral resolution about humanity and needs, not getting into military tactics like ceasefiring?” he asked.
The question drew shouts of frustration calling for a ceasefire, or objecting to McConnell’s language constraint.
McConnell banged the gavel and threatened to remove everyone but the responses continued. McConnell told Vallejo police Capt. Drew Ramsay to clear the room and Ramsay directed everyone to the exit
City Attorney Veronica Nebb said that members of the press would be allowed to stay. When the council returned to the empty chambers, McConnell said that someone had suggested the council issue a proclamation rather than a resolution.
Resolutions are administrative actions that are used to conduct city business, establish policy or make formal public statements. Proclamations are more ceremonial and are generally used to promote events or recognize groups or individuals who have made an important contribution to the community.
Nebb said that the council could vote to direct the city staff to draft the proclamation and councilmembers could review the document individually. She said that the proclamation could then be read at the beginning of the next council meeting and would not require a second vote to approve it.
McConnell and Palmares volunteered to work with Nebb to craft the language of the document. Nebb said that staff could have the document ready by the council’s regular meeting on Jan. 23.
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