After condemning violence and a homicide spree this month in Birmingham, the Birmingham City Council then voted to condemn violence in the Middle East and call for a ceasefire in Gaza.

The council approved a resolution of support for ceasing hostilities between Israel and Hamas.

“The City of Birmingham is widely known as the birthplace of nonviolent human rights campaigns during the Civil Rights movement and continues to be a beacon for upholding human rights worldwide,” the resolution said.

“The Birmingham City Council strongly urges the swift and secure exchanges of all hostages and urges the Biden Administration to call for sustained, bilateral cessation of hostilities and the immediate provision of humanitarian aid in Gaza as the scale requires.”

The City of Birmingham joins more than 100 cities in the United States that have made calls for the immediate and sustained ceasefire in Gaza.

“I’m glad we could bring this resolution forward in support of some of our community members who find it really important that we make this gesture for peace,” Council member Carol Clarke said. “I personally stand for peace anywhere and anytime, especially after this weekend. For us to make this stand is important – local peace, world peace, any peace we can advocate for is a worthy cause.”

The council passed the Gaza statement after months of lobbying by pro-Palestinian groups, who came out in large numbers on May 14 to ask for the city to pass such a statement.