(SANTA CLARA, CA, 12/7/23) – On Saturday, Dec. 9, the San Francisco Bay Area office of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR-SFBA), the nation’s largest Muslim civil rights organization, will join organizer East Bay 4 Ceasefire Now and Contra Costa County residents at a gathering in solidarity with Palestine at Rep. Mark DeSaulnier’s town hall meeting.
WHAT: Call for Rep. DeSaulnier to affirm his support for a permanent ceasefire in Gaza and to reject more U.S. military funding to Israel
WHEN: Saturday, Dec. 9 | 11:30 a.m. – 2:00 p.m.
- 11:30 a.m. – 1:00 p.m. Community gathering before Rep. DeSaulnier Town Hall
- 1:00 p.m. – 2:00 p.m. Rep. DeSaulnier Town Hall
WHERE: Diablo Valley College (DVC)
- DVC Commons for pre-town-hall gathering
- DVC Bistro for Rep. DeSaulnier Town Hall
WHO: Families and allies from Jewish, Muslim, and all other religious and ethnic backgrounds and conscious voters and taxpayers of Contra Costa County.
BACKGROUND:
As of Dec. 4, Israel has killed over 17,000 Gazans, including 6,600 children. Over 40,000 individuals have been injured and at least 6,000 civilians are missing in the wake of Israel’s horrific bombardments. Over half of Gaza’s residential units have been destroyed, and 26 out of 35 hospitals—nearly 75 percent—are not currently functioning. Each day that a ceasefire is delayed, hundreds more will die. Given these statistics, it is imperative that we unify and show our strength in numbers in supporting a permanent ceasefire.
Rep. DeSaulnier is one of only 53 congressional representatives who has called for a ceasefire. This Saturday, Dec. 9, the congressman will host a public town hall in his district, and we’re showing up to thank Rep. DeSaulnier for taking a public stand and to urge him to support a permanent ceasefire and an end to U.S military funding to Israel.
Residents of D-10 and supporters will gather before the town hall to stand in solidarity with Palestine and call on the representative to take necessary action. Community speakers, including anti-Zionist Jewish residents, Muslim community leaders, and Palestinian residents and allies will attend.
As the temporary pause in the bombardment of Gaza has come to an end, we urge our community to join us in calling on Rep. DeSaulnier to affirm his support for a permanent ceasefire and reject more U.S. military funding to Israel.
Deena, a local Palestinian-American, said: “While safe in our home in the East Bay, we watch in horror at the atrocities happening to our brothers and sisters in Gaza. We welcome all people of principle to join us in saying “ceasefire now” and to work toward a just, peaceful, equal, and nonviolent future.”
Riyad Sood, CAIR San Francisco Bay Area Paralegal and a Palestinian-American resident of D-10, said: “The current tragedy in Gaza—reflective of the decades-long conflict—has inflicted immense suffering on the Palestinian people, with countless innocent lives lost. Advocating for a ceasefire is not only an ethical imperative but also mirrors the growing sentiment for peace in the broader American public and international community.”
The greater Diablo Valley area community gathering is one of hundreds taking place across the country this week, following an end to the temporary truce agreement and resumption of violent bombardment across Gaza.
More context from Jewish Voice for Peace:
“…right now, the U.S. government is enabling the Israeli government’s atrocities, sending weapons, moving U.S. warships into proximity, sending U.S.-made munitions, and pledging blanket support and international cover for any actions taken by the Israeli government. Furthermore, U.S. government officials are spreading racist, hateful, and incendiary rhetoric that will fuel mass atrocities and genocide. The loss of Israeli lives is being used by our government to justify the rush to genocide, to provide moral cover for the immoral push for more weapons and more death.
“We call on all people of conscience to stop the ongoing genocide of Palestinians. We demand that our government (local and federal) work towards de-escalation and that it immediately stop sending weapons to the Israeli military. A future of peace and safety for all, grounded in justice, freedom, and equality for all, is still the only option.”
CAIR-SFBA is an office of CAIR, America’s largest Muslim civil liberties and advocacy organization. Its mission is to enhance understanding of Islam, protect civil rights, promote justice, and empower American Muslims.
