State College Borough Council on Wednesday unanimously approved a resolution urging the Biden administration to call for an immediate ceasefire and de-escalation in the Israel-Hamas War. 

Adoption of the resolution, which is believed to be the first of its kind by a municipal government in Pennsylvania, came after a four-hour meeting that saw more than five dozen community members offer input after a month of sometimes contentious debate.

“In these circumstances, I believe our default should be with our common humanity, which pronounces quite clearly that killing is wrong, whether it’s done by Hamas or whether it’s done by any other armed forces, including Israel, and that the killing of innocent children, whether they’re Jewish, whether they’re Israeli, whether they’re Palestinian or Muslim is a particularly egregious wrong,” council member Gopal Balachandran said.

The resolution also condemns the October 7 Hamas attack on Israel, urges work toward the swift release of hostages, calls for prompt humanitarian aid to Gaza, and affirms the borough’s commitment to the safety of its residents and combating antisemitism, Islamophobia, racism, homophobia, xenophobia, and ethnic discrimination.

It will be sent to President Biden, Pennsylvania Senators Bob Casey and John Fetterman, and U.S. Representative Glenn Thompson.

Balachandran introduced a proposal for a resolution on November 20, and the council took up the matter on December 4. The resolution, though, was ultimately withdrawn after a public comment period that led a majority of council members to conclude a measure intended to be unifying had instead become divisive.

It seemed the resolution was off the table, but at the council’s regular meeting on Monday night, about 20 people spoke during public comment to urge reconsideration. The meeting was continued to Wednesday for the sole purpose of considering a new draft of the resolution — one which was much more concise and bereft of the host of “whereas” clauses present in the original version.

After Council President Jesse Barlow read the newly proposed resolution and added a few key words — most notably an explicit condemnation of the October Hamas attack — nearly every community member present in the packed council chambers took the microphone, and more spoke on Zoom, during a three-hour public comment period.

Sixty-two people in all spoke, and as at the December 4 meeting, they represented a diverse array of community members: children and senior citizens; Jews and Muslims; professors, doctors, and business owners; Palestinian students and people with family living in Israel and Gaza.

An overwhelming majority spoke in favor of the resolution. Some chided council members for not having already taken action. Among the approximately half-dozen who spoke against the resolution, several chastised the council for giving little notice that the measure was back on the table.

David Werner, of Ferguson Township, said without a call for the immediate unconditional surrender of Hamas, the resolution was “antisemitic.”

“Your 11th-hour proposed resolution does nothing to further peace in the Mideast,” Werner said. “It can only be a source of potential harm to our State College community in regard to our residents and our property.”

Gabeba Baderoon, of State College, responded that many of the mass demonstrations around the world calling for a ceasefire have been led by Jews.

“In calling for a ceasefire, we are not calling for an independent commission into war crimes committed by the IDF. We are not calling for an end to the apartheid state. We are not calling for the right of return. We are not calling for the end of occupation,” Baderoon said. “We are calling for the end of mass murder. I’d like the council to deliberate on how many children need to die before we say we support a ceasefire. I would like to ask you what the proportion of civilian death is that would be acceptable to you before we call for a ceasefire.”

Mohammed Al Megbel, of State College, said calling for a ceasefire did not have to be about choosing sides.

“Let’s take one side,” he said. “Let’s stand with humanity, and that’s what we are calling for. We are asking our council to call for a ceasefire to stop the killing of women, children, and men who are just like us.”

Michael Krentzman, of College Township, called the meeting “very disappointing,” and said the resolution was “wrong and irresponsible.” 

“I’m very disappointed that this is something we’re even discussing,” Krentzman said. “No one in a position to affect this situation on a global scale cares what the Borough of State College thinks about this. The cost is the division of what this has done in this community. It makes it harder for us to get along with one another.”

Supporters of the resolution said it represents a statement of community values, supporting peace and community members who have been affected by the war directly or indirectly, and has the potential to be part of a larger effort.

That State College is not in a position to affect any direct change on a national or global level — a common contention among opponents of the resolution on Wednesday and earlier — was not lost on Balachandran. 

“Of course, we are a local body, but that doesn’t mean resolutions like these are not important as a statement of our values,” Balachandran said. “… I have no illusions about this. Our resolution, it’s not as if Joe Biden is waiting for the resolution from State College Borough in the mail. But that does not mean that its impact is zero. It’s like a drop of water, and with enough drops canyons are carved.”

Some council members said learning about more perspectives on the war led them to change their minds on the resolution. Barlow cited a New York Times op-ed authored by the heads of six international aid organizations that read in part, “…The right to self-defense does not and cannot require unleashing this humanitarian nightmare on millions of civilians. It is not a path to accountability, healing or peace. In no other war we can think of in this century have civilians been so trapped, without any avenue or option to escape to save themselves and their children.”

Council member Peter Marshall originally felt the resolution was too divisive but now noted the sheer destruction in Gaza — 25,000 tons of explosives, the damage or total loss of about half of its housing — and indiscriminate bombing by Israel.

Prior to her remarks, council member Deanna Behring asked members of the public to hold up signs with pictures of injured Palestinian children.

“…I hold these children from Israel and Palestine in my heart tonight as I support this resolution,” Behring said.

For council member Nalini Krishnankutty, the debate around the resolution was “inspiring” because it can serve to build a stronger community, she said.

“I know that many have said this is a divisive issue, this has divided our community, but I am actually happy that we are having these conversations and I see unity because we are participating in this exercise together,” Krishnankutty said. “We are actually creating that common ground on which we can have further conversations.”

Mayor Ezra Nanes and several council members urged community members to continue to engage on that common ground with respect for others’ views.

“Wanting to be seen and heard and valued and have your life matter to other people in the community, I heard that from everybody. Wanting to know that our loved ones and friends are safe, I know that everybody, whatever the view, was expressing a desire for that, a need for that,” Nanes said. “So I know we are unanimous in some ways. I’m going to hold on to that.

“…Let’s be kind to one another after this moment as we go into the world and let’s talk to each other about what happened tonight and what’s happening. Let’s talk about this. This has been a privilege to be a part of the process in this community.”

The full text of the resolution:

A Resolution Of The Borough Of State College On The War In Gaza

WHEREAS, all members of the State College community share a common humanity. 

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the State College Borough Council calls upon our Congressional Delegation, both in the Senate and House of Representatives to join us in:

1. Urging the Biden administration to immediately call for and facilitate de-escalation and a ceasefire, condemning the Oct. 7th attack on Israelis by Hamas and that all parties should join to urgently end the current violence in Gaza and to continue its work toward the release of all hostages; and
2. Calling upon the Biden administration to promptly send and facilitate the entry of humanitarian assistance at the scale needed into Gaza; and
3. Supporting all of its residents and condemning all forms of racism, bigotry, and discrimination; and
4. Advocating for the dignity and safety of residents in every community; and
5. Affirming its commitment to combating antisemitism, Islamophobia, racism, homophobia, xenophobia, and ethnic discrimination in all its forms; and
6. Recognizing the need to address the root causes of crises for a pathway to lasting peace and justice; and
7. Calling for continued open, honest, respectful, and tolerant conversation among our local community in support of our common humanity.
   
   Now be it further resolved that upon passage, a copy of this resolution be sent to President Joseph R. Biden, Jr., Senator Robert P. Casey, Senator John K.
   Fetterman, and Representative Glenn W. Thompson.

RESOLVED this 20th day of December of 2023.