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 announced that more than 50 California elected officials have signed a Stand with Children in Gaza statement that expresses concern about the grave consequences of Israel’s ongoing bombardment and siege of Gaza.
The statement, written by Santa Clara County Board of Education (SCC BOE) members* Raeena Lari and Maimona Afzal Berta, and signed by 55 assembly, city council, delegate, and board of education members, plus more than 600 community members, reads:
“Every innocent life taken is a travesty, but the continued loss of children is a failure of humanity. At this moment, we stand with the children of Gaza. One million children make up half the population of Gaza. We call for peace and demand that US taxpayer funds be used to immediately de-escalate and stop any additional loss of life. We call for the immediate restoration of basic services, water, electricity, fuel, and health to protect the health and wellbeing of children and families.”
In a statement, SCC BOE Maimona Azfal Berta said, “Countless elected leaders have issued irresponsible statements that contribute to the dehumanization of the Palestinian people and incite Islamophobia. We teach students and youth to value and respect our diverse communities but then see leaders hand-pick which children they stand with. We must have the moral and political courage to stand with the children of Gaza. When so-called ‘justice and equity-oriented’ leaders remain silent, the cost is condoning hate and violence.”
In a statement, SCC BOE Raeena Lari said, “As I watch this devastating humanitarian catastrophe, where an entire population including innocent children is at risk of decimation, silence is not an option. The consequences of failing to counteract otherization and dehumanization are already emerging with increased hate crimes and horrific violence in our midst as well.”
Regarding his decision to endorse the statement, California State Assemblymember Alex Lee said, “The only moral choice is an end to the massive, brutal military action against Palestinian families. The children of Gaza need our voices to call for peace and ceasefire.”
Zahra Billoo, CAIR-SFBA Executive Director, added, “The one-sided narrative driven by elected officials, including President Biden, has fomented a hate-charged atmosphere that tragically culminated in the senseless murder of a six-year-old Palestinian-American child and a violent attack on his mother over the weekend. Public representatives have a responsibility to foster balanced dialogue. No single life is more valuable than another. The violence and loss of life must end.”
CAIR-SFBA encourages people of conscience to sign the statement at bit.ly/standwithchildreningaza.
*Title used for identification purposes only