(CLEVELAND, OH, 10/18/23) – On Monday, Oct. 16th, the Cleveland office of the Ohio chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR-Cleveland) joined community members from across organizations, cultures and faiths banded together to confront Cleveland leaders about their unwavering support for Israel.
Two prominent Cleveland leaders, Blaine Griffin and Mayor Justin Bibb expressed their support on social media for Israel shortly after the events on Oct. 7th. During the public comment portion, residents from across Cleveland took to the microphone for their three-minute allowance to address members of Cleveland City Council led by the City Council President, Blaine Griffin, Mayor Justin Bibb was in attendance.
CAIR-Ohio, Cleveland Interim Executive Director Faten Odeh took to the microphone first stating:
“ I am here to address the hurtful one-sided statements about the tragedy in the Middle East coming from some of our Cleveland leadership. To state that “Cleveland stands with Israel,” is not only a gross misuse of your position as a civil servant but a complete disregard of the tens of thousands of Palestinian-Americans who reside right here in Greater Cleveland-your constituents in which you bear a responsibility to. I have come to the conclusion that you must not know what is really happening because any decent human being with a soul would never make such absolute, direct statements of support for such a violent military regime without talking about the human cost exacted by the civilians across the region.”
Odeh continued to address the city’s purchase of Israeli bonds:
“Not only are your one-sided statements in support for occupation and oppression of millions of people cruel, but the allocation of tax dollars also paid by us-Palestinian Americans are being used to purchase millions of dollars in Israeli bonds. Cleveland is paying for the thousands of illegal settlements and outposts on stolen Palestinian land in violation of international law.”
Omar Kurdi, President of the Arab Americans of Cleveland-Young Professionals Network (AAC) addressed City Council, stating:
“I come to you not with joy, but with sadness, and disappointment. Sad because of all the violence taking place in Palestine and Israel. Disappointed, because, while the city condemns Hamas’s attack on Israel, there was no mention of the violence Palestinians in Gaza are going through today and have been going through since the siege began in 2007. Palestinians have been going through bullying, racism, displacement, and an occupation since 1948. This isn’t a 10-day conflict, this is a decades-long occupation.”
Kurdi also addressed the increase in Islamophobia and anti-Palestinian incidents:
“I should not fear for losing my job, or for my life, for simply demanding that Palestinian innocent lives be given the same amount of concern, love, mourning, and outrage as Israeli lives. If humanity is what you stand for, do something, demand a ceasefire, and stop this cycle of violence while also protecting us here, in our home of choosing.”
Abbas Hamideh, of Al-Awada was joined by his daughter Haneen Hamideh and they each gave their own statements, addressing the devastating destruction the Palestinians in Gaza are currently facing.
Speakers also included Summer Husein and Amina Hamdan. Organizations in attendance included, Cleveland Peace Action, Jewish Voice for Peace, the Arab American Voter Project, OPAWL and Arab Americans of Cleveland.
CAIR is America’s largest Muslim civil liberties and advocacy organization. CAIR-Ohio’s mission is to enhance understanding of Islam, protect civil rights, promote justice, and empower American Muslims. CAIR-Ohio has offices in Columbus, Cincinnati, and Cleveland.
La misión de CAIR es proteger las libertades civiles, mejorar la comprensión del Islam, promover la justicia, y empoderar a los musulmanes en los Estados Unidos.
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CONTACT: CAIR-Ohio, Cleveland & Northern Ohio Interim Executive Director Faten Odeh, fodeh@cair.com, 216-830-2247