While a self-described group of “peace activists” wants the Longmont City Council to approve a resolution calling for an immediate and permanent ceasefire in Gaza, several council members say their job is to work on local issues.
Numerous residents have spoken out about the Israel-Hamas war in recent weeks at City Council meetings in Longmont, Boulder, Denver and across the country.
Councilmember Marcia Martin made a motion for the council to consider a draft resolution about the issue at a study session earlier this week. She said a group of “peace activists” gave her the resolution and had spoke during the public comment period of City Council meetings.
The proposed resolution calls for “an immediate and permanent ceasefire in Gaza and the occupied West Bank, immediate, unhindered humanitarian aid into Gaza, and the release of all hostages and arbitrarily detained Palestinian civilians,” according to a copy of it obtained by the Times-Call.
Martin’s motion at the study session failed due to a lack of a second from any other councilmember.
In a separate interview, Martin said that she would have supported such a resolution. When asked if she was surprised by the lack of a second to her motion, Martin replied, “No, I figured that that was what was going to happen.”
Councilmember Sean McCoy said that while he wanted a humanitarian solution, he also made clear that he was elected to focus on Longmont issues.
“This is an issue that isn’t like climate change where Longmont has a stake in the climate change of the United States and the environment in which we live in,” McCoy said.
Councilmember Diane Crist thought resident concerns about the Israel-Hamas war should be directed to their U.S. senators and representatives as opposed to municipal-level government officials.
“The job of the City Council is to focus on running the city,” Crist said.
Longmont resident Irina Karic, who was one of the resolution’s primary authors, said that she and others were deliberate with the specific language they used.
“Our own process was quite thoughtful and mindful, choosing the words anyone could support.” Karic said. “Every word in that resolution was intentional.”
Karic said that the group behind the resolution is diverse and intergenerational and includes Jewish and Muslim residents, among others.
The resolution calls Israel’s use of force “disproportionate” and goes on to say that “millions of lives in Gaza are at imminent risk of death due to forced starvation, malnutrition, dehydration, disease and the continued Israeli military attacks if a permanent ceasefire is not immediately enacted and humanitarian aid is not delivered without delay.”
When Hamas attacked southern Israel on Oct. 7, it abducted about 250 people and caused around 1,200 — mostly civilian — casualties, the Associated Press has reported. The Associated Press also reports that more than 34,500 people have been killed in Gaza, citing local health officials.
While the City Council generally focuses on policies that directly impact Longmont residents, it occasionally takes stances on national and international issues. For example, in August 2022, Longmont Mayor Joan Peck issued a proclamation recognizing and supporting a global treaty on the prohibition of nuclear weapons.
Proclamations are issued by the mayor and are for ceremonial purposes only. They do not create any policy or law. Resolutions, which are adopted by a majority vote of the council, generally express policy and direct certain types of administrative action.
