Pro-Palestinian campaigners are calling on Birmingham City Council to call for a ceasefire in Gaza

Dozens of pro-Palestinian activists, many wearing traditional kefieh scarves, filled Birmingham City Council chambers and overcrowded the lobby outside on Tuesday, hoping to persuade the city to take a stand in defense of Gaza in the Israel-Gaza war.

Several spoke at the end of the council meeting, asking the city to pass a resolution calling for a ceasefire. Such a resolution would first have to be approved and recommended by a committee.

At the start of Tuesday’s meeting, the city adopted a proclamation declaring May as American Jewish Heritage Month.

Joyce Shevin, director of the Jewish Community Relations Board for the Jewish Federation of Birmingham, said the proclamation read on Tuesday was planned without knowledge that pro-Palestinian activists would attend the meeting.

“We are anti-Hamas, not anti-Palestinian,” she said outside the meeting. “We are pro-Palestinian.”

Youth for Palestine members also said it was just a coincidence that their call for the City Council to consider a pro-Palestinian position came on the day of the declaration of American Jewish Heritage Month.

Pro-Palestinian activists who signed up were allowed to speak at the end of the council meeting.

“I heard the mayor’s proclamation celebrating American Jewish Heritage Month,” said the first speaker, University of Alabama history professor Janek Wasserman. “As a proud American Jew, I am pleased and proud to hear that we are honoring this.”

He said more than 100 cities have passed resolutions to show solidarity with the Palestinians.

“We need an immediate ceasefire,” he said. “We believe that the actions that a city council can take by supporting such an effort, by supporting such a proclamation, can be resounding.”

He received a standing ovation.

“Please be seated,” asked Birmingham City Council President Darrell O’Quinn. “Ladies and Gentlemen, please maintain decorum… Please stop ranting.”

Another speaker, Chris Isler, said that American taxpayers help fund Israel, “which is indisputably committing genocide in Palestine.”

“The right thing is to call for a ceasefire in Palestine,” said Patrick Hall.