Palestine Tet 106 – Denver City Council votes down a ceasefire resolution – but in a cowardly way – refuses to take the vote in front of a jam-packed conference room of ceasefire-end-the-Gaza-genocide supporters

Arnie Carter getting arrested for civil disobedience. He was protesting the policies of the Jewish National Fund and against the U.S. sponsored Israeli slaughter of Gazan Palestinians. Me too – in fact we were chained together

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“There is no better than adversity. Every defeat, every heartbreak, every loss, contains its own seed, its own lesson on how to improve your performance next time.”

Malcolm X

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The Denverite: Denver City Council rejected an Israel-Gaza ceasefire proclamation after fleeing critics

The Denver Post: Denver City Council rejects Gaza cease-fire proclamation in tense meeting

When after more than a month of meetings, revisions, revisions of the revisions, the Denver City Council voted down a proclamation (which is NOT a resolution) calling for a permanent ceasefire between Israel and the Gaza Palestinians, several reports noted that more than 500 people showed up to support the passage of the resolution. I wonder if that was some kind of record in and of itself, a show of the groundswell of public opinion in Denver against the genocide and ethnic cleansing that Israel, with U.S. support, encouragement, money and arms, is conducting in Gaza.

In response to the unprecedented showing of anti-genocide supporters, the Council seemed shaken. Rather than proceed to the vote publicly and with dignity, Council members fled the chambers and voted in a more secure venue. After essentially boycotting the groundswell of unprecedented pro-Palestinian activities in Denver (and elsewhere in the state and nation), the major press finally did cover this meeting with major articles.

Still interesting. Who voted for the proclamation?

An open socialist, Sarah Parady – a member of Democratic Socialists of America; Shontell Lewis of Denver’s Black Community; and two Chicanas, Jamie Torres and Serena Gonzales-Gutierrez – all in the flower of youth – that is to say an Anglo leftists and three persons of color, one black, two Chicanas . And that mix – people of color together with socialists all in the flower of youth – is the seed here in Denver and elsewhere in the country for the fightback against racism and discrimination of all kinds, for labor rights, for peace and to reverse climate change – in a word – for socialism!

Am I discouraged with the vote?

A little of course. But not much. While the proclamation was voted down, this is far from the end to working in Denver for a ceasefire.

No time to kvetch, beat our chests saying “Woe is us!”. While the proclamation was voted down, this is far from the end to working in Denver for a ceasefire.

Take a deep breath, if needed, take a breather – even if you can’t go to Costa Rica and count tropical birds as Nancy and I did … and come back stronger.

Much work to do. Together!

This is only the beginning.

We lost the vote but we have already won the hearts and minds of anybody with a conscience in this city and have done, in a tiny way, what the Palestinians have achieved at great costs in Gaza: put the Palestinian question: their suffering, their hopes back on the map. A beautiful, humane sleeping giant is awakening: the struggle of the Palestinian people, an integral part of the worldwide struggle for human, economic and social rights. 

Together for Palestine!