The push for a ceasefire is gaining momentum in cities across the U.S.

Two Massachusetts cities — Minneapolis and Summerville — passed ceasefire resolutions Thursday, calling for an immediate and permanent cease-fire; humanitarian aid; an end to U.S. military funding to Israel; and the release of Israeli hostages taken by Hamas and the release of Palestinians held in Israeli military prisons, just hours after Maryland lawmakers introduced a ceasefire resolution in the general assembly. The measures are a result of mounting pressure from community members on elected officials.

Maryland Delegate Gabriel Acevero introduced Thursday’s measure with co-sponsorship from seven other lawmakers. The joint resolution asks the general assembly to “convey to Maryland’s Congressional Delegation its support for an immediate, long-term ceasefire in Israel and occupied Palestine, the return of all hostages and delivery of adequate humanitarian aid to the Palestinian people.”

The resolution states the conflict in Gaza has given rise to bigotry that directly impacts communities in Maryland and driven a divide between community members which weakens efforts to work toward justice and peace.

“Since October, people who have been advocating for a ceasefire day and night, seeing this resolution filed is something hopeful.” Samya Muhammad of Islamic Maryland Action Network (IMAN) said. “We can feel as Marylanders we’re doing the best we can with the power that we have,”

IMAN is an offshoot of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR), the nation’s largest Muslim civil rights and advocacy organization. Both groups urged state lawmakers to cosponsor Del. Acevero’s ceasefire resolution ahead of Thursday.

Muhammad said the measure is validating for concerned residents who have close ties to Palestine.

“This shows that the people in the state of Maryland do want a ceasefire, do want the next chapter to begin where real conversations can be had moving us forward to safety and stability for a Palestinian state,” Muhammad said. “We hope this is another nudge in showing our elected figures they need to do more to get us to that point.” she said.

The resolution comes days after U.S. Sen. Chris Van Hollen, who represents Maryland’s 8th district, caved to demands from constituents and called for a ceasefire. A group of protestors gathered with megaphones outside the Democrat’s house last week demanding he call for a ceasefire.

Van Hollen also called for a release of hostages and for President Joe Biden to put forth a “big, bold plan for a two-state solution that guarantees Israel’s security — so there are no more October 7ths — and allows for self-determination, security and dignity for the Palestinian people.”

Constituents in Maryland have put pressure on lawmakers for months, urging them to speak out as the Israeli bombardment intensifies, worsening illness and hunger in Gaza and bringing the death toll to more than 26,000 Palestinians since the conflict began Oct. 7.

More than 200 Baltimore businesses and organizations signed a letter to four Maryland senators, including Van Hollen, in December urging them to call for a ceasefire. Ryan Harvey, a co-author of the letter, said solidarity with Palestinians runs deep in the city where Black residents and Jewish residents face oppression similar to Palestinians.

“This [resolution] is extremely important,” Harvey said. He thinks the measure will bring both short-term and lasting change at the state and national level.

“A resolution like this helps with the immediate need for as much pressure as possible on the White House to stop this genocide,” Harvey said. “It also opens up a conversation and mobilizes people to be prepared to fight freely anti-democratic leg that is going to move through the state houses.”