Thanks go to the creative activists from East Bay 4 Ceasefire Now, who did an excellent job in organizing this event!
Several hundred people of all ages were in attendance at the community gathering and demonstration of Saturday, December 9th at Diablo Valley College in Pleasant Hill.
Speakers included representatives from various groups including poets, students, Palestinian and Muslim communities as well as from Jewish Voice for Peace.
A large side area was dedicated to displaying several hundred pairs of children’s shoes, providing a shocking reminder of the carnage currently taking place in Gaza. Included with the shoes was a banner with a printout of 7,000+ names of all those killed in the bombardment (as of several weeks ago – now over 18,000).
After the community gathering, long lines formed to enter the separate indoor venue where the Congressional Town Hall, organized by Congressman Mark DeSaulnier’s office, was to take place. During the wait, constituents were able to address him personally just outside the venue. The crowd size caused a delay in the starting time, but he was able to take the stage around 1:30.
As the Town Hall event was not originally organized to specifically cover the topic of the need for a permanent ceasefire in Gaza/Israel, the Congressman initially focused on a myriad of other topics, finally including Gaza/Israel at the end of his power point presentation. By the time of the Q&A, patience was clearly wearing thin. Those in attendance pushed to have their voices heard, encouraging him to agree on the need for an immediate ceasefire. In the end, he did not, but he was definitely informed of the wishes of these many constituents.
NOTE: DeSaulnier has been included in a growing list of representatives who are open to working towards a ceasefire (UPDATED LIST) , but falls short in supporting the Ceasefire Now Resolution put forward by Congresswoman Cori Bush.(MO-1) on 10/16/23. CLICK FOR INFO.
Clearly more work needs to be done!
*This event was organized by East Bay 4 Ceasefire Now. QR code link to organization located in flyer. This organization has no co-sponsorship relationship with Congressman DeSaulnier nor his office.