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To the world,
We, the Center for Community Action and Environmental Justice, issue this statement with a sense of urgency and deep concern for the ongoing violence and suffering in Gaza. We call for an immediate ceasefire to end the war crimes, genocide, and ethnic cleansing being perpetrated against the Palestinian people. The apartheid regime they have lived under has plagued Palestinians for decades, but the recent devastating loss of over 11,000 lives, mostly innocent children, has reached unimaginable proportions. Thousands more are wounded, millions are displaced, and countless others are witnessing this pain and injustice.
We also firmly denounce the censure of the only Palestinian Congressional Representative, Rashida Tlaib, passed in Congress. Calling for a ceasefire should not be controversial, and we implore President Biden, as the Commander-and-Chief of this nation, to utilize his power to de-escalate the situation and work towards peace. It is disheartening to witness the aid and support of innocent lives being withheld in favor of contributing to their destruction.
The majority of people in the United States are demanding a ceasefire, refusing to let our tax dollars be used to perpetuate the killing of children and innocent people in Gaza and other affected regions. While we denounce the actions of Hamas, violence and bombing communities will never be the solution. As humans, we have a responsibility to protect the most vulnerable, yet we continue to fail in this regard. Enough is enough – we demand an immediate ceasefire, not a futile humanitarian pause that only exacerbates the suffering of those already deprived of basic necessities such as food, water, shelter, and medication.
We are witnessing a genocide in Gaza, and we refuse to remain silent. We call for an end to the atrocities that our country is contributing to and demand immediate action to protect the Palestinian people. The environmental racism and injustice occurring in Gaza further exacerbates the displacement and denies people the right to breathe clean air and drink clean water – basic human rights that should never be compromised.
In the words of Representative Rashida Tlaib, "The cries of the Palestinian and Israeli children sound no different to me. What I don’t understand is why the cries of Palestinians sound different to you all. We cannot lose our shared humanity. I hear the voices of advocates in Israel and Palestine across America and around the world for peace." We urge you to listen to the cries of the world and put an end to this suffering.
The time for action is now.
Ana Gonzalez, CCAEJ Executive Director