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Residents urge Oakland County commissioners to bring ceasefire resolution to a vote
Summary
Multiple Oakland County residents urged commissioners to bring a ceasefire resolution concerning the Israel–Gaza conflict to the board floor. Speakers criticized the chair for not allowing a vote and appealed to the county’s values; commissioners did not vote on such a resolution at the meeting.
Several members of the public used the board’s second public‑comment period to urge the Oakland County Board of Commissioners to bring a ceasefire resolution on the Israel–Gaza conflict to a vote and to explain why no such measure had been presented.
Speakers—including Naval Sater, Amrit Coley and Heather Burnham—urged the board to support a ceasefire and to use county influence and investments to reflect values of justice and human dignity. Amrit Coley told the board she opposed the violence and said, "Mister Woodward has decided for the entire county that no ceasefire resolution will be brought to the floor for a vote despite hearing strong support for 1 on the commission and in the community," attributing the decision to the board chair.
Heather Burnham asked why the board had not brought a ceasefire resolution to a vote and requested a reason if the chair would not allow one: "Please bring the ceasefire resolution to a vote. And if you can't do that, please give us an answer as to why," she said. Kazi Afzal and Alia Malik framed their remarks in the context of Martin Luther King Jr.'s legacy, urging commissioners to act in favor of peace and human rights.
Other public speakers raised related concerns about county investments and partnerships. Mike Flores said that when the county sends economic envoys abroad or renews memberships, such as the Michigan Israel Business Accelerator, investments should reflect "values of justice, equality, equity, and well‑being for all people." Several commenters referenced recent campus protests and international events and said they expected the board to act in line with residents’ moral concerns.
Board action: No ceasefire resolution was on the meeting agenda, and the board did not vote on such a resolution during the session. Several speakers directly criticized Chair Dave Woodward in their remarks; those criticisms are reported as attributed statements by the speakers. The public comments were taken under the meeting’s general public‑comment rules and did not produce a formal county resolution or directive during the session.
