The Maryland office of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR), the nation’s largest Muslim civil rights and advocacy organization, today applauded state delegates who introduced and co-sponsored a ceasefire resolution in the state legislature.
CAIR is urging members of the House Rules and Executive Nominations Committee to vote it out of committee and lawmakers to pass it this session.
SEE: House Joint Resolution 0002
https://mgaleg.maryland.gov/mgawebsite/Legislation/Details/hj0002?ys=2024RS
Thousands of Maryland have responded to CAIR and community action alerts urging passage of the resolution since it was introduced last week.
Since Israel’s ongoing assault on Gaza began on Oct. 7, it has destroyed entire residential neighborhoods and critical infrastructure, killing more than 26,000 people, mainly women and children. Human rights organizations and advocates from all over the world have stated that Israel is depriving Gazans of food, water, electricity, and medicine while also indiscriminately dropping bombs on homes, hospitals, bakeries, schools, mosques, churches, and even refugee camps in Gaza, which amount to war crimes.
CAIR urges all Marylanders to stand for peace and justice by supporting Joint Resolution 0002.
In a statement, CAIR Maryland Director Zainab Chaudry said:
“We have a moral obligation to act with urgency in this moment. It must never be controversial to demand an end to the killing of innocent people. CAIR applauds the courage of Delegate Acevero and all the cosponsors of this Joint Resolution, and we urge House Rules and Executive Nominations Committee Chair Anne Healey and committee members to vote in favor of this measure and swiftly move it out of committee to bring it to the House floor for a vote.
“We urge all state lawmakers to equally value Palestinian lives and unanimously pass this resolution as the Maryland General Assembly unanimously rightfully passed a joint resolution in support of Ukraine. An overwhelming majority of Americans support a permanent ceasefire. Our government should reflect the will of the people it serves.”
BACKGROUNDER:
Introduced by Delegate Gabriel Acevero, and co-sponsored by Delegates Ashanti Martinez, Caylin Young, Tiffany Alston, Sheree Sample-Hughes, Kent Roberson, Veronica Turner and Diana Fennel, HJ0002 Supporting a Long-Term Ceasefire in Israel and Palestine acknowledges the humanity of Palestinians and Israelis and aims to protect innocent lives and increase the flow of humanitarian aid into Gaza which is experiencing one of the most dire humanitarian crises in modern history.
The past 115 days of bombing and attacks have led to at least 30,000 Palestinians killed – both Muslims and Christians and led to the forced displacement of nearly 2 million people from their homes in Gaza.
Last week, CAIR welcomed a ruling by the International Court of Justice, the United Nations’ highest court, that declared South Africa’s charge of genocide against the Israeli government plausible, allowed the case to proceed, and ordered the Israeli government to take various measures to prevent genocidal acts and report back to the ICJ in one month.
SEE: CAIR Welcomes UN Court Ruling on Gaza Genocide Charge Against Israel
CAIR recently welcomed U.S. Senator Chris Van Hollen’s (D-Md.) call for a ceasefire.
SEE: CAIR Welcomes Senator Van Hollen’s Call for Gaza Ceasefire, Urges State Lawmakers to Cosponsor Resolution in Md. General Assembly
Last Friday, the civil rights group joined IMAN Network, families from Gaza and state lawmakers at a news conference on Lawyers’ Mall to urge support for HJ0002.
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.
– END –
CONTACT: CAIR Maryland Director Zainab Chaudry, 410-971-6062, zchaudry@cair.com