MINNEAPOLIS — Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey has taken his veto pen to a city council resolution calling for a ceasefire between Israeli forces and Hamas in Gaza.
Frey said he supports a ceasefire, but believes the council's resolution was "one-sided" and failed to "recognize the history of Israeli Jews."
"The resolution City Council approved uplifts the history of Palestinians, and all but erases that of Israeli Jews," Frey said in a statement.
"Including some people’s history as valid, truthful, and righteous as it may be, while ignoring others, is neither progressive nor inclusive. That's not in keeping with the Minneapolis I know and love. At a time when anti-Semitic incidents and Islamophobic complaints have risen nearly 400% and 216% respectively nationwide, we have an obligation to, at the very least, not make things worse. I remain open to signing a truly unifying ceasefire resolution and hope we can all do this work together."
The mayor, who is Jewish and the only elected Jewish person in the city of Minneapolis, said the failure to reflect his feedback in the final resolution was "disheartening."
City Council President Elliott Payne issued the following statement Wednesday in response to Frey's veto:
"The City Council passed a resolution with a supermajority through the full legislative process, which provided transparency to the public and a full opportunity for every member to bring forward alternative language through amendments. Our options are to override the veto or allow it to be sustained, and I will work with my colleagues to weigh those options."
The Minneapolis City Council passed its resolution 9-3 last week, following occasionally heated debates and public comments in multiple meetings. While largely symbolic, council member Andrea Jenkins said there was community outcry for a formal statement.
"It's a humanitarian crisis," Jenkins said last week as she voted in favor. "I believe, as human beings on the planet, we have to stand up against injustice whenever and wherever it is."
The council does have the option of voting again to attempt to override the mayor's veto. That vote would occur at the earliest on February 8, which is the next scheduled meeting of the full city council.
Members of the Free Palestine Coalition have also announced a protest for Thursday to encourage the council to do so.
In a news release, Frey pointed to language in similar resolutions passed by other cities that he would be willing to sign, including measures passed in Hastings, Minn. and Greensboro, N.C.
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