Supporters of a City Council proclamation calling for a ceasefire in Gaza packed the council chambers on Monday.
Several people spoke during the 30 minutes allotted for public comment period. More than 84 signed up to speak. The crowd filled an overflow room.
Sarah Kaplan Gould, who is Jewish, said Jews who spoke at a previous council meeting opposing the ceasefire did not speak for her. She said she hopes people are not refraining from calling for a ceasefire out of fear of offending Jews.
Many Jews oppose a ceasefire because they believe Israel has a right to defend itself, and because Hamas has violated previous ceasefires. But others, like Kaplan Gould, say Israel is “a country that is plainly in violation of international law.” Kaplan Gould said Jews are being “used as wedges for ongoing U.S. military support.”
Former City Council member speaks
Former Denver City Council member Kathleen MacKenzie also spoke in support of a ceasefire. She said she served on council from 1999 to 2007. While on the council she sponsored a proclamation in 2003 against the Iraq war. She said she “came of age during the Vietnam era,” yet with Iraq America again was “going to war halfway around the world with confused objectives.”