At their Jan. 22 Central Committee, Jackson County Democrats passed a resolution supporting a ceasefire in Gaza. The resolution calls for Sen. Wyden and Rep. Bentz to join Sen. Merkley “in supporting a suspension of U.S. military aid to Israel until a permanent ceasefire is declared.” The resolution also calls on our state legislature and the city councils in Jackson County to pass resolutions calling for a permanent ceasefire in Palestine.

By Jan. 31, 70 cities from San Francisco to Chicago to Providence called for a ceasefire. Sixty-one percent of likely voters, including a majority of Democrats (76%) and Independents (57%) and a plurality of Republicans (49%), support the U.S. calling for a permanent ceasefire and a de-escalation of violence in Gaza. (Source: Data for Progress).

President Biden is still sending armaments and money to Israel, despite their failure to meet humanitarian requirements linked to the aid.  Calling for a ceasefire puts pressure on the administration to persuade Israel into stopping what many organizations are calling “genocidal conduct” in Gaza. We must end our complicity in a war that has killed more than 26,000 people and pushed two million more to the point of starvation.  Please ask the Ashland City Council to support a permanent ceasefire resolution.  It’s the right thing to do.

Andy Seles

Ashland