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Multiple public commenters urge Cincinnati leaders to condemn Israel and call for divestment as U.N. warns of child starvation in Gaza
Summary
Dozens of public commenters at the May 21 Cincinnati City Council meeting urged city leaders to condemn Israeli actions in Gaza, citing a U.N. warning that up to 14,000 infants could die within days without aid.
A series of speakers during the May 21 public comment period urged Cincinnati City Council to condemn Israeli military actions in Gaza, to call for divestment, and to take other local steps in response to a U.N. humanitarian warning that thousands of infants face imminent risk of death without immediate aid.
Multiple speakers referenced a U.N. statement cited in public comments: “Yesterday, May 20, the UN humanitarian chief warned that up to 14,000 babies in Gaza could die within the next 48 hours,” one speaker said. Bettina Ernst told council, “Your silence in the face of the suffering of your constituents and the death of tens of thousands in Gaza will be accounted for,” and called for moral accountability and an end to what she called “apartheid and genocide in Palestine.”
Werner Long linked local housing cases and the former Vision and Beyond owner to the conflict in Gaza and concluded: “Do the right thing. Condemn genocide in Gaza.” Lina Zharub said, “Today, words fail me. Right now, 14,000 babies in Gaza are at risk of dying.” Jonathan Nortman and other speakers connected the humanitarian emergency to what they described as U.S. financial and political support for Israeli operations and urged local divestment and advocacy.
One council member, after public comment, offered a brief statement: “I strongly condemn the possibility of 14,000 children possibly being starved to death in the next 48 hours,” and asked for grace and reflection on collective inaction. Beyond those remarks, no formal council resolution, vote or policy action on the international conflict was recorded during this meeting.
Discussion versus action: The comments were part of the public-comment period and did not trigger a council motion or recorded vote on a municipal policy related to the conflict. Speakers repeatedly asked council to speak out and to consider divestment or other measures; the mayor and council recorded a moment of silence and one council member expressed condemnation of the humanitarian crisis, but the record shows no formal policy action.
Ending: Several speakers warned council that history would remember local silence and urged Cincinnati leaders to use municipal leverage to oppose what they described as atrocities abroad. Council members acknowledged the comments but did not adopt any new formal local measures during the meeting.
