Tonight, there was a confrontation between the police and protesters at the city council meeting. A Pro Palestine group took over the council chambers, resulting in the meeting coming to an abrupt end.
Spokane City Council Members retreated to a back room while the protesters demanded the reversal of a resolution that had been unanimously passed last month. This resolution condemned the violent acts of Hamas and supported Israel’s right to exist and defend itself. Before the situation escalated further, council members listened to testimonies from several Pro Palestine supporters during the open forum.
Some argued that the actions of the Israeli government were those of a settler colonial state, taking advantage of the situation to justify the eradication of an indigenous population. They criticized the resolution as racist and accused council members of supporting Israel without shame or remorse.
The council president, Lori Caner, ended the meeting via Zoom, and no items on the agenda were passed. The protesters announced their plans to return to the council chambers next Monday..
