On Monday, March 4, the Maryland office of the Council on American-Islamic Relations joined dozens of witnesses who testified in support of HJ0002 Ceasefire Resolution before the House Rules Committee in the Maryland General Assembly.
SEE: House Joint Resolution HJ0002
Before the hearing, CAIR joined Maryland State Senator Joanne Benson, Maryland State Delegates Gabriel Acevero and Caylin Young, Jewish Voice for Peace DC Metro, multi-faith leaders and other advocates at a news conference in Annapolis urging lawmakers to support the resolution in the General Assembly.
SEE Remarks by CAIR’s Maryland Director
The hearing date was announced with only a few hours’ notice for witness sign up. Many people who wanted to testify did not have a chance to sign up in time. Many who did sign up, received a message that they weren’t selected. They then received a message an hour before the hearing that there was an error and they were in fact selected. Some witnesses had technical difficulties entering the virtual hearing room, with garbled audio in the hearing room.
Despite the setbacks, pro-ceasefire testimonies reportedly outnumbered anti-ceasefire testimonies 80-3.
Introduced by State Delegate Gabriel Acevero and cosponsored by eight lawmakers, HJ0002 calls for an immediate, long-term (permanent) ceasefire in Israel and occupied Palestine, the return of Israeli hostages and delivery of urgently needed humanitarian aid. The resolution acknowledges the loss of life on October 7th and condemns Antisemitism, Islamophobia, and anti-Palestinian/anti-Arab bigotry. It urges Maryland’s congressional delegation to support a ceasefire and calls for a diplomatic and humanitarian response.
CAIR is asking the community to take action to urge the House Rules Committee to swiftly vote on the resolution.
TAKE ACTION: https://bit.ly/votehj2
In her testimony at yesterday’s bill hearing, CAIR’s Maryland Director Zainab Chaudry said in part:
“The urgency of this moment cannot be overstated. Innocent lives deserved to be protected and valued, regardless of whether they are Israeli or Palestinian. A ceasefire yesterday would have protected the lives of hundreds of innocent people who are being killed today. A ceasefire today would protect hundreds of innocent lives tomorrow. Collective punishment should never be acceptable. We would never fathom bombing a school full of children in order to take out a school shooter. Subjecting the entire 2.2 million population of Gaza to relentless, sadistic violence and suffering is unconscionable, immoral and inhumane.
Nearly 70 percent of Americans support the U.S. calling for a permanent ceasefire and a de-escalation of violence in Gaza. Howard and Anne Arundel Counties recently joined at least 66 members of congress including Representatives Jamie Raskin, Kweisi Mfume and David Trone, dozens of U.S. cities and counties in calling for a ceasefire to end the violence and bloodshed.
As discussions around this resolution unfold within the Maryland General Assembly, it is crucial to resist disinformation and extrapolations, and to prioritize the sanctity of human life. By supporting a ceasefire, lawmakers are championing a humane stance that aligns with most Americans and fosters a commitment to peace, diplomacy, and the well-being of innocent lives on all sides. You are supporting the safe release of all hostages and political prisoners including thousands of Palestinian children who are unjustly detained by the Israeli government.
This assembly rightfully unanimously passed a resolution supporting Ukraine without hesitation in 2022. This ceasefire resolution similarly serves as a beacon of empathy, acknowledging to Congress and the Biden administration of the urgent need to halt the ongoing deadly violence, promote humanitarian efforts, and to pave the way for meaningful negotiations towards a just and lasting solution.
History will judge us by where we stood in this staggering crisis. Protecting innocent lives should never be a controversial issue. It should never be controversial to call for a ceasefire especially to save the lives of innocent children. Supporting HJ0002 is supporting humanity, dignity, peace and freedom.”
CAIR is America’s largest Muslim civil liberties and advocacy organization. Its mission is to enhance understanding of Islam, protect civil rights, promote justice, and empower American Muslims.
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CONTACT: CAIR Maryland Director Zainab Chaudry, zchaudry@cair.com, 410-971-6062