Prince George’s County activists have pushed several North County municipalities – Cheverly, Colmar Manor, College Park, Brentwood, Riverdale, Mt. Rainier, and New Carrollton – to pass resolutions that call for a permanent ceasefire in Gaza. 

“We’ve been working diligently with local community members and elected officials across the county, who recognize that genocide is wrong – and embrace their power in standing up against it,” said Raaheela Ahmed, activist, and former county school board council member. “Thankfully, that’s led to seven municipalities (thus far) in the county passing resolutions supporting an immediate and permanent ceasefire in Palestine.”

“I believe that local ceasefire resolutions are important as a way regular citizens can make our will and feelings known where we live, where we pay taxes, in our communities, influencing the elected officials who answer most directly to us,” said  Juliana Barnet, a Jewish activist that’s participated in several direct action protests.

Briana Urbina, chair of The New Carrollton County Council, said council members voted 5-0 to pass its resolution. She was surprised about the unanimous vote. She also noted that residents didn’t rally against the resolution. However, Urbina said the mayor was concerned about the resolution, saying it wasn’t a municipal issue. 

“In New Carrollton, the mayor is not a governing body member,” Urbina explained.  That's actually an uncommon practice in Maryland. Most mayors are members of the governing body. So it was the council's decision, ultimately my decision, that gets put on the agenda. So we [decided to move] forward with it. She did sign the resolution.” 

The Intersection asked Urbina about the significance of passing a resolution like this. She said: “It’s hard to say. I feel like I have to use my voice whenever I can. But I do feel frustrated that the leaders who have the ability to affect this change are not responding to the people on the ground, who are calling for that change. I think, you know, if Trump wasn't on the other side of the ticket, if it was a saner and ‘vanilla’ Republican, then I think Democrats would be more motivated to be more progressive.”

“While a resolution by a single small town or even a larger city might have limited impact, the cumulative effect of resolutions in many municipalities across the country – along with a wide variety of other means of protest – has made halting our country’s support for the occupation, starvation, blockade, and slaughter of Palestinians a front-burner issue both locally and nationally,” explained Barnet.

Throughout the summer, advocates for Palestinian life protested in Washington, D.C., resulting in the largest protest in American history to challenge the U.S. government to advocate for a ceasefire in Gaza. 

Prince George’s County advocates joined the chorus. Activists gathered in front of Congressman Glenn Ivey’s house, to strongly encourage him to advocate for a ceasefire. They also protested at his Washington, D.C. office.

A month later, on March 28, community members, held a press conference at the Hemingway Memorial AME Church in District Heights during Ramadan. Christian pastors, Muslim leaders, activists, and state and county politicians used the press conference to urge County Executive Angela Alsobrooks and the county council to pass a resolution calling for a ceasefire in Gaza. Raaheela Ahmed, former Prince George’s County council member of the Board of Education, activist, and organizer, revealed at the conference that 28 state and local politicians had signed a letter addressed to Alsobrooks and the county council urging them to sign a ceasefire resolution.

“We, the undersigned current and former elected officials in Prince George’s County, take a public stance in favor of an immediate and permanent ceasefire in Palestine,” Ahmed read from the letter as she stood before the audience. “We are asking you to join us in doing the same. Please come together to support peace, and take a unified, public stance supporting a ceasefire. Know that by speaking up, you would not be alone.”

It should be noted that Alsobrooks, during her senate campaign, called for a ceasefire.

“We have to release the hostages and cease fire,” Alsobrooks said, with some of the audience applauding. “We need a ceasefire. And we need the United States and every other nation across the world doing everything we can, to stop and prevent the indiscriminate killing of innocent civilians. And we ought to be doing everything we can to stop the humanitarian crisis that has developed in Gaza,” according to the Maryland Reporter. 

But, she hasn’t, to The Intersection's knowledge, introduced any resolution to the county council for consideration, nor has the county chair, Jolene Ivey, or the county council. However, two council members, Wala Blegay (District 6)  and Krystal Oriadha (District 7), stood alongside Ahmed at the press conference and gave speeches advocating for a permanent ceasefire in Gaza.  

Ceasefire resolutions, at this point, have been mostly introduced and passed in North County. Urbina thinks the issue in Gaza may not be a main concern for South County residents.  She also wondered if the lack of municipalities in the South region plays a role. 

“ I thin​​k South County — not having as many municipalities –  makes them more dependent on the county council and county government, which can be less responsive,” said Urbina.

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