[Allison Slavik holds up a photo at the Fargo City Commission meeting on Jan. 22. 2024, of 8-year-old Adam al-Ghoul, a child shot and killed by Israeli forces in the West Bank while playing outside his house with his friend, according to the BBC.Melissa Van Der Stad / The Forum]

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Jan. 23, 2024

Media Contact: Kyle Feldhake [email protected]

Fargo & Moorhead Residents Bring Desire for Ceasefire Resolution to City Councils

Fargo, North Dakota  – Residents and members of the CODEPINK chapter of Fargo-Moorhead took advantage of the public comment time at both Fargo and Moorhead’s commission and council meetings on Monday. Their intention was to introduce the idea of a ceasefire resolution as a way for the cities to express their desire to see an end the US funded genocide being committed by Israel against Palestinians in Gaza.

Five residents in Fargo and four residents in Moorhead brought up the desire for a ceasefire resolution in the allotted time for public comment. Several community members joined to watch the meeting, some with signs reflecting the demand for a ceasefire resolution. In both cities, residents highlighted Israel’s attacks on hospitals and other civilian infrastructure. 

Prairie Johnson, Fargo resident and organizer, raised concern for the attacks on hospitals in Gaza. “Maybe worst of all, this is all preventable. None of this has to happen. There is one clear remedy to Israel’s morbid disregard towards Palestinian life and human suffering and our government who bankrolls it: call for an immediate ceasefire.”

Ceasefire resolutions from cities and town are spreading throughout the country as a means to push back against federally elected officials failure to use action to stop the ongoing genocide in Gaza that has already taken the life of 25,000 Palestinians since October 7. 

Those who expressed their desire for a ceasefire resolution are hopeful. CODEPINK Fargo-Moorhead organizers goal for the coming weeks is to meet with a member of each council/commission to begin the process of introducing a resolution calling for a ceasefire. 

KJ Atkinson, a resident of the area spoke on behalf of two Palestinian community members at the Moorhead meeting who were unable to speak due to the high risk of repression and concerns of not being able to return to Palestine to see family. "They and their family members who are stateside are experiencing constant trauma as they watch with a painful silence and a heavy weight of despair the slaughtering of their family and friends on the screen." Atkinson continued and ended their comments with a request of the Moorhead city council, "I end this with a simple yet imperative request, for you to call for a ceasefire."

CODEPINK Fargo-Moorhead will continue to engage the community on the importance of ending this genocide. 

For more information about this community effort, please contact Kyle Feldhake [email protected].

###