We cannot sit idly by while Israel continues its genocidal campaign in Palestine. The Biden administration is continuing to fuel a military campaign thats strategy has willfully and tragically claimed the lives of over 22,000 civilians -- over 9,000 of which are children. Israel's forced displacement and indiscriminate bombing campaigns have successfully and in many cases permanently, displaced almost 2 million people. Their longstanding blockade of the Gaza strip which enforces their apartheid regime and creates the conditions necessary for the continuation of this conflict has worsened during this war. Their total refusal to allow electricity, water, and medical supplies into Gaza threatens to plunge the entire population of 2.2 million people into an avoidable famine.

Every year, through federal taxes, Richmond residents contribute $3.6 million to the Israeli military. That is enough to fund 429 families with public housing for a year; provide 1,258 children with free or low-cost healthcare; fund 60 elementary school teachers yearly salaries; power 10,293 households with solar electricity for a year; or fully payoff student loan debt for nearly 100 residents. The additional $14 billion that the Biden administration has sent since October was paid for with $13.7 million from Richmond Residents. Imagine what the country could accomplish if that money was instead invested in our schools, environment, or housing!

We call on the Richmond community to join us, American Muslims for Palestine, and Students for Justice in Palestine, the Virginia Coalition for Human Rights in calling for City Council to join countless other localities as well as members of congress in calling for a permanent ceasefire and the dismantling of the settler colonial systems that perpetuate this conflict.