NEWBURGH – Following over 40 speakers – residents of Newburgh, Beacon, and Poughkeepsie – mostly calling for a permanent ceasefire in the Middle East, the Newburgh City Council voted Monday night to support that resolution.
Five voted for the resolution and two abstained.
Councilman Robert McLymore, who voted for the motion, expressed concern about the city being divided over the issue.
“If you just take a minute and listen to everybody that spoke. Yes, there were some that spoke for and some that spoke against, but it shows you the division. All I am asking is that we have to get together, we have to come together, we must unify,” he said.
Councilwoman Giselle Martinez said, “For weeks, constituents have lined up for a public comment, asking that we local elected officials use our voice and power to ask that the federal government support a permanent ceasefire.” She said the resolution is important because it was requested by many of her constituents. She believes that a ceasefire is important not only because it would save lives, but also because it would allow federal resources to be redirected from military spending on the conflict to issues impacting Newburgh such as a lack of housing and gun violence. She also pointed out that other local governments, including the Village of New Platz, have formally called for a ceasefire.
Many people, speaking very emotionally, talked of Israel’s bombings killing thousand and thousands of civilians, with only two Jewish men pointing out Hamas’ brutality in their October 7 attacks in Israel. Another man, a rabbi, joined the chorus of those calling for a ceasefire.
Some speakers said the resolution before the local lawmakers would divide the city’s population.
The resolution called on President Biden, Senators Schumer and Gillibrand, Congressman Pat Ryan, State Senator Rob Rolison, and Assemblyman Jonathan Jacobson to back a permanent ceasefire in Gaza.
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