The San Francisco Bay Area office of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR-SFBA), the nation’s largest Muslim civil rights and advocacy organization, today welcomed the city of Colma’s decision to cancel a planned Israeli flag raising ceremony, while urging city officials to take the additional step of rescinding a proclamation recognizing “Israeli Independence Day,” which falls on April 22 this year.
CAIR-SFBA, along with International Jewish Anti-Zionist Network, Palestinian Youth Movement, Peninsula for Palestine, San Bruno for Palestine, and others, had raised concerns about the impact of the planned ceremony and proclamation on members of the local community, particularly Palestinian, Arab, and Muslim residents.
“We welcome the city of Colma’s decision to cancel the flag raising ceremony and appreciate the city’s responsiveness to community concerns,” said CAIR-SFBA Executive Director Zahra Billoo. “At the same time, cancelling the ceremony without withdrawing the proclamation leaves in place an official action that many in the community experience as deeply harmful. We urge the city to take this final step.”
While the date is commemorated by some as a celebration, it also marks the Nakba (catastrophe in Arabic) for Palestinians, referring to the mass displacement and dispossession that began in 1948. For many, that history remains unresolved and continues to be experienced in the context of ongoing violence and what numerous human rights organizations have described as genocide in Gaza.
CAIR-SFBA noted that local government actions carry significant weight and can impact how residents experience inclusion and belonging in their communities.
“Decisions like this should bring communities together, not deepen division,”Billoo added. “We encourage the city to engage with affected community members and ensure that future actions reflect the full diversity and lived experiences of its residents.”
CAIR-SFBA calls on the Colma City Council members to rescind the proclamation and to engage in dialogue with impacted communities before taking similar actions in the future.
CAIR-SFBA is an office of CAIR, 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-SFBA Communications Manager Lorrie Adam, (408) 498-5779, [email protected]