Make it Local!
On August 3, the Wayne County Commission in Michigan passed a resolution urging President George Bush to bring about an immediate ceasefire in Lebanon and Gaza. The American-Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee (ADC) urges members and supporters to press their local and state governments to pass similar resolutions.
The Wayne County measure was introduced by Commissioner Philip M. Cavanagh (D-Redford Township) and co-sponsored by Commissioner Gary Woronchak (D-Dearborn). The resolution was approved by a 13-0 vote with one abstention.
Both Woronchak and Cavanagh said they were compelled to act because of the large Lebanese population in their districts. “This is a very personal issue for the people I represent, with their family members involved and in harm’s way, and I help offer this resolution on their behalf,” said Woronchak. Said Cavanagh, “Hundred of innocent civilians have been killed in this senseless conflict. Many of these victims have family members who live in my commission district here in Wayne County.”
Resolution No. ___
By Commissioner Philip M. Cavanagh
Whereas There is a long-standing history of violence in the region of the world known as the Middle East, with violence over the last sixty years especially turbulent; and
Whereas Tension between Middle East nations has been the focus of significant international attention, with unprecedented historic efforts by the United States to broker a long-term and meaningful peace in the region; and
Whereas Extreme violence has erupted in the past several months, including rocket attacks, kidnappings, indiscriminate bombardments, and ground attacks, injuring and killing hundreds of innocent civilians; and
Whereas Violence and attacks in Israel, the Gaza Strip, and southern Lebanon has been especially deadly during this time, which is threatening the stability of the entire Middle East; and
Whereas Based on the historic nature of the current violence, a task of epic proportion lies before negotiators in order to successfully get past the current violence and return to their duty of establishing peace in the Middle East; and
Whereas For humanitarian reasons and to stop the bloodshed on both sides, the only reasonable short-term solution to return to the long-term task of negotiating peace is to implement a cease-fire between the parties currently engaged in violent attacks against one another and their respective civilian populations; therefore
Let it be resolved that
The Wayne County Commission go on record urging that the President of the United States and his ambassadors immediately work to implement a cease fire in the Middle East between all involved parties, and to stop the killing and injuring of innocent civilians.
Furthermore, be it resolved that
A copy of this resolution shall be sent to the entire Michigan congressional delegation, President George W. Bush, Vice-President Richard Cheney, United States Ambassador to the United Nations John Bolton, United States Ambassador to Israel Richard Jones, and United States Ambassador to Lebanon Jeffrey Feltman.