Paul Ellertson, staff writer

Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey vetoed the ceasefire resolution passed by the Minneapolis City Council. According to a quote from the Star Tribune, Frey called the resolution “One sided” and “not inclusive.” He went on to say “The resolution you approved uplifts the history of the Palestinians, but erases that of Israeli Jews.” Frey claims to support Israel, a ceasefire and a two-state solution and is against the bombing of thousands of innocent Palestinians in Gaza every week.  

According to the Sahan Journal, the original ceasefire resolution that passed in a 9-3 vote by the City Council on Jan. 25 called for not only a ceasefire, but more humanitarian aid and an end to U.S. military aid to Israel. While there was much support, the council members against the resolution shared their input on the resolution. Council Member Linea Palmisano stated in a quote reported to the Sahan Journal, “Cease-fire is not what this is about. This is about wanting to become the city with the most radical, far-reaching resolution to support one side, and I do not read your language any other way. I’ve consistently urged a different path here.” 

Now that the ceasefire resolution has been vetoed, the same nine City Council members have had to vote again in favor in order to override the veto. Minneapolis has joined other cities such as San Francisco, Detroit, Atlanta, Seattle and Chicago with passing a ceasefire resolution. Detroit City Council Member Gabriela Santiago-Romero voted for a ceasefire, stating in a quote to Reuters the resolution “represented many young people, especially people of color who want leadership that represents them.” The Biden administration has rejected all of these calls for a ceasefire saying in a quote from Reuters, “a ceasefire would tempt Hamas to strike again.”

Following Frey’s veto, groups supporting Palestine gathered in protest outside of Government Plaza on Feb. 1 to urge the same nine council members to override the veto. Protestors also aimed to “to celebrate the council members who had helped pass the resolution,” said Augsburg student Sana Wazwaz who was in attendance. Upon arrival at Government Plaza, there were organizers handing out flyers that had information about upcoming demonstrations in both Minneapolis and St. Paul over the next month. 

Several speakers led chants and gave a few quick speeches to the crowd. One of these speakers was Wazwaz stating, “Our tax dollars that could be funding local institutions are being allocated to a foreign military… There are escalating hate crimes against Palestinian Arab and Jewish communities… The U.S. police forces train with Israeli forces and exchange brutal tactics that are used on people of color… a ceasefire resolution passed on the state level will put pressure on the federal level, which was very similar to Apartheid South Africa in the 80’s.” 
On Feb. 8, Minneapolis City Council held a vote to override the veto. According to a joint statement from Council President Elliot Payne and Vice President Aisha Chughtai, they are “proud of the 9 Council Members who stood by what most Minneapolis residents believe: the defense of humanity is a shared project,” as quoted in an article from Kare11.