Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Public Comment Gaza Immigration topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Residents use public comment at Cincinnati City Council to condemn actions in Gaza and warn about immigration enforcement
Summary
Multiple speakers at the citizens forum criticized U.S. and Israeli actions in Gaza, called for council to speak out, and raised fears about local immigration enforcement and property seizures; remarks were made during the public comment portion and did not result in council action at the meeting.
At the citizens forum before Cincinnati City Council's business meeting, several residents used their two minutes of public comment to sharply criticize the killing of Palestinians in Gaza, to call for elected officials to speak out, and to express fear about immigration enforcement and alleged local misconduct.
Jonathan Norman said the world "watches as Palestinians are being killed and forced out of their home," and urged local officials to "speak out and demand we end involvement in every entity making this evil possible." He described the humanitarian situation in Gaza and said the silence of politicians enables continued harm.
Lena Zareub told councilors the situation exposed a moral double standard and invoked an Arabic proverb: "If you have no shame, then you can do anything and everything," and asked why local leaders would share a stage with officials she said have supported policies she described as enabling mass violence. Mohammed Ahmad said, "It's too late. Gaza no longer exists," and directly addressed the mayor by name during his remarks.
Crystal Sarton spoke about personal fear for an immigrant family member and said she lives in fear that "these ICE thugs" could "come into my home," framing her concerns as broader than a single community. Stanford Poole, another commenter, alleged city wrongdoing and accused the city of taking property from poor residents, saying "you told the people that you go to the poor neighborhood and write them up and tell them to give you their title up where you can make a profit out of."
Speakers delivered statements during the public comment period; council did not debate or take formal action in response during the meeting. The public-comment segment concluded before the business portion began. Council did later proceed with scheduled ordinances, resolutions and committee referrals during the business meeting.
