Feb. 1, 2024

Yesterday, Mayor Jacob Frey vetoed the divisive “ceasefire” resolution passed by the Minneapolis City Council last week.
(See JCRC’s statement applauding the Mayor below).

Use your voice to support Mayor Frey and our allies on the City Council:

1. Send “thank you” messages to Mayor Frey, Council Members Linea Palmisano (Ward 13), LaTrisha Vetaw (Ward 4), and Michael Rainville (Ward 3) for their leadership and for promoting a unifying, inclusive, and representative vision for the city. Thank CM Emily Koski (Ward 11) for not supporting the divisive “ceasefire” resolution.
2. Submit a public comment in support of Mayor Frey’s veto. (Enter 2024-00011 for “subject or file number.” If you live in Minneapolis, list your address and ward in your comment to show you are a constituent. If you don’t live in Minneapolis, select “I do not reside in Minneapolis” and share how the Council’s actions cause harm beyond city boundaries.)
3. Write a letter to the editor in the Star Tribune or another local Minneapolis newspaper such as Insight News, Northeaster, Hill & Lake Press, Southwest Voices, or Southside Pride.
4. Attend the City Council meeting on Thursday, Feb. 8, at 9:30 AM to show support for Mayor Frey’s veto (Room 350, Public Service Center, 250 S 4th St, Minneapolis, MN 55415). Sign up here if you plan to join us.

Public Comment Template

I support Mayor Jacob Frey’s veto of the one-sided “ceasefire” resolution passed by the City Council on Jan. 25.

[share how the passage of the resolution impacted you and your feelings of trust and safety in the city of Minneapolis]

That resolution was divisive, inflamed antisemitism, and presented a one-sided view of a complex and heartbreaking conflict.

It is deeply discouraging that Council Members had the opportunity to support a unifying ceasefire resolution that did not adopt one side’s narrative over the other’s, and chose the divisive path instead.

I urge the City Council to uphold the Mayor’s veto.

**Click here to submit a public comment. Enter 2024-00011 for “subject or file number.” If you live in Minneapolis, list your address and ward in your comment to show you are a constituent. If you do not live in Minneapolis, select “I do not reside in Minneapolis” and share how the Council’s actions cause harm beyond city boundaries.

JCRC applauds Mayor Frey for vetoing divisive City Council resolution

January 31, 2024 

JCRC applauds Mayor Jacob Frey for vetoing the divisive “ceasefire” resolution passed by the Minneapolis City Council last week.  

We support the Mayor in his call for a resolution that will bring the city together behind a unifying message of ceasefire, return of all Israeli hostages held by Hamas, support for a two-state solution, and humanitarian aid to Gazans.  

As the Star Tribune Editorial Board wrote on Sunday: 

If the council felt the need to amplify views on the Mideast, it should have pursued neutral language that represents the common ground among its constituents, as a minority on the council recommended…

The Mayor’s veto letter to the Council is eloquent and worthy of the great city of Minneapolis. We quote much of it here to underscore its importance: 

Any statement coming from City Hall should be built on peace, not on choosing a side. 

Any City action taken should be about bringing people together, not causing more division in an already fraught situation. 

International relations are complex – multi-layered and multi-faceted. The history underpinning the conflict the world is witnessing demands a rigorous and honest examination of the history of Jewish and Palestinian people. 

The resolution you approved does not. That these basic tenets need to be stated at all, let alone in a formal letter, is deeply disappointing. 

The resolution you approved uplifts the history of Palestinians, and all but erases that of Israeli Jews. Including some people’s history as valid, truthful and righteous as it may be, while ignoring others, is neither progressive nor inclusive. That’s not in keeping with the Minneapolis I know and love. 

Setting aside the question of whether local elected officials’ limited time and energy is best spent weighing in on international affairs in the Middle East, you have submitted a formal act of the City Council. Such an action requires a formal Mayoral response. 

We continue to thank Council Members Linea Palmisano, LaTrisha Vetaw, and Michael Rainville for supporting the Mayor’s vision of an inclusive and representative resolution and for their leadership. We also appreciate Council Member Emily Koski’s perspective and abstentions.  

We urge all Council Members to uphold the Mayor’s veto.