Effectively Out-Organizing The Zionist Lobby Dear Email, As we welcome the blessed month of Ramadan, a time of reflection, community, and generosity, we are excited to share with you a monumental achievement that has paved the way for a brighter future. Last month, the Minneapolis City Council officially passed a ceasefire resolution, marking Minneapolis as the first city in the U.S. to call for an end to all U.S. aid to Israel. This groundbreaking resolution was brought to life through the collaborative efforts of the AMP Minnesota team, along partners at the Minnesota-based Free Palestine Coalition. Originally adopted on January 25th, it faced a veto from Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey less than a week later. However, thanks to the tireless mobilization of AMP and partner organizations, the city council overturned the mayor's veto on a 9-3 vote, marking one of the only times a veto has been overridden in the current Mayor’s history.  The resolution is monumental for three key reasons. Firstly, by establishing a nationwide precedent, Minneapolis has become the first major city in the country to demand an end to U.S. aid to Israel shattering the boundary of what is considered acceptable criticism of Israel. Secondly, the resolution contextualizes the current crisis with 75 years of displacement and occupation, rather than erroneously starting the timeline on October 7th. Lastly, it acknowledges the truth by referring to Israel's siege as genocide and collective punishment, incorporating findings from the International Court of Justice (ICJ) investigation. But our work did not stop there. After weeks of intense advocacy and protest, we also passed another resolution in St. Paul, Minneapolis’ twin city and the state capital. This means that our chapter’s mobilization and work have effectively out-organized and outdone the Zionist lobby in the Twin Cities. Despite the JCRC and Jewish Federation’s obstructionism and pressure campaigns, they passed resolutions in the state’s two major cities in a matter of months. That’s an enormous accomplishment and a testament to the resilience and determination of our community. AMP chapters around the country have worked on city council resolutions, passing them in major cities across the country such as: - Chicago, IL
- St. Paul, MN
- Hastings, MN
- Columbia Heights, MN
- St. Louis, MO
- Paterson, NJ
- Union City, NJ
- North Bergen, NJ
- Weehawken, NJ
- Toledo, OH
At AMP, through our grassroots network, we will leave no stone unturned in our pursuit of justice in Gaza. But we need your support to help keep this work going. Make a Zakah-Eligible donation today to support our #LetGazaLive Campaign. May this holy month bring you and your loved ones peace, health, and prosperity. |
