Chicago votes for a #ceasefire.
Mayor Johnson breaks a tie vote in the city council after clearing the chamber.
My sweet home Chicago became the largest city in the United States to formally call for a #ceasefire in a resolution narrowly passed by the city council.
The vote followed a city-wide walkout of high school students. Following the walkout students rallied inside Chicago city hall to urge council members to vote for the #ceasefire resolution.
The vote was 23-23 with Mayor Johnson breaking the tie.
The pro-#ceasefire students and others filled the chamber with loud chants resulting in Mayor Johnson ordering it cleared.
The vote ccording to the Chicago Sun Times:
Yes: Joining co-sponsors Rodriguez Sanchez and La Spata were Lamont Robinson (4th); Desmon Yance (5th); William Hall (6th); Nicole Lee (11th); Julia Ramirez (12th); Jeylu Gutierrez (14th); David Moore (17th); Jeanette Taylor (20th); Ronnie Mosley (21st); Mike Rodriguez (22nd); Byron Sigcho-Lopez (25th); Jesse Fuentes (26th); Chris Taliaferro (29th); Ruth Cruz (30th); Carlos Ramirez-Rosa (35th); Andre Vasquez (40th); Jim Gardiner (45th); Angela Clay (46th): Matt Martin (47th); Leni Manaa-Hoppenworth (48th); and Maria Hadden (49th).
No: Besides Silverstein, voting against the resolution were Brian Hopkins (2nd); Greg Mitchell (7th); Michelle Harris (8th); Anthony Beale (9th); Peter Chico (10th); Marty Quinn (13th); Ray Lopez (15th); Derrick Curtis (18th); Matt O’Shea (19th); Silvana Tabares (23rd); Monique Scott (24th); Jason Ervin (28th); Felix Cardona Jr. (31st); Scott Waguespack (32nd); Bill Conway (34th); Gilbert Villegas (36th); Nick Sposato (38th); Samantha Nugent (39th); Anthony Napolitano (41st); Brendan Reilly (42nd); Timmy Knudsen (43rd); and Bennett Lawson (44th).
Not voting: Burnett, Coleman, Pat Dowell (3rd) and Emma Mitts (37th).
It was reported that a couple of the alders not voting were asked to to go AWOL by the Mayor in order to ensure a tie vote which allowed the Mayor to break the tie.
Burnett is the vice mayor.
Coleman is the assistant council pro-tempore.
Alder Tim Knudsen of Lincoln Park’s 43 ward voted no but wrote on his Medium site:
For years, Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has set the path towards peace backwards. He has opposed a two-state solution, expanded settlements into the Palestinian Territories through home demolitions, and controlled water and travel within the Palestinian Territories. We won’t reach a lasting peace in the region with Netanyahu as broker. The international community must lead negotiations.
Alder Debra Silverstein, who represents the far north side 50th ward, led the opposition to the #ceasefire resolution.
Silverstein has offered her own pro-Israel resolution.
Nicole Lee, the council’s first Asian-American alder and who represents Bridgeport’s 11th ward, voted in favor of the #ceasefire resolution.
Responding to the vote, the Wall Street Journal ran with the headline: “Chicago votes for Hamas,” equating a call for peace with supporting Hamas.
Fake news.
The Chicago City Council on Wednesday passed a resolution calling for a cease-fire in Gaza, and Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson cast the tie-breaking vote. Skeptics wonder when the mayor will support a cease-fire on the West Side.
They are miserable and racist excuse for a newspaper.
NOTE: No information for this post came from the Chicago Tribune where Guild members are engaged in a one-day work stoppage.