Duluth City Council Votes Against Gaza Peace Resolution

DULUTH, Minn. — Monday night an overflow crowd filled the Duluth City Council Chamber.

Most people were there to voice their opinion on the resolution supporting a permanent ceasefire to prevent the loss of human life in the Middle East.

After hearing the opinions of dozens of people, the council took its vote, and the resolution failed on a 5 to 4 vote.

Former city councilor Joel Sipress was among those encouraging the council to support the resolution.

“We have to change. The reason we have to change is that decades of almost unquestioned U.S. government support for the state of Israel and the policies that brought us to the brink of a humanitarian catastrophe of unimaginable proportions,” said Sipress.

David Lewis expressed the opinion that the city council should not pass the resolution. Lewis said, “I’ve read the city charter several times last week and I’m confident you do not have the authority to make this resolution. Your authority lies in the city of Duluth,” Lewis said.

In the nearly three hours of residents voicing their opinions, a young girl was among those asking the council to pass the resolution.

Another speaker supporting the resolution said that as many as 40 of his relatives had died in the conflict.