City Council meeting on Tuesday
Dozens of community members attended a Harrisburg City Council meeting on Tuesday to speak out against the war in Gaza.
Residents packed the council chambers, many urging council to bring forward a resolution calling for a cease-fire in Gaza as Israel wages war with Hamas.
“If you vote yes to this resolution, the voices of 50,000 Harrisburg residents will be added to the list of cities who have called for a permanent and immediate cease-fire,” said resident Nicole Wooten. “I urge you, make sure this beautiful city of Harrisburg is on the right side of history.”
The two sides have been at war since Oct. 7, when Hamas militants attacked several Israeli communities, killing over 1,100 people. The subsequent war has killed over 30,000 people in Gaza, according to the Gaza health ministry.
On Tuesday, a number of Harrisburg residents spoke about the horrors of war and death, the lack of access to medical care and the effect on women and children.
“More than 30,000 people are dead,” Wooten said. “To put that in perspective, the population of Harrisburg is only about 50,000 people. Everyone in this city can sense the devastation when even a single life is taken.”
A member of Harrisburg’s Religious Society of Friends, Kay Pickering, also shared that her organization supports peace and nonviolence and that other religious organizations should, as well.
“We are deeply troubled by the suffering and injustice caused by the Israeli-Palestinian conflict,” said Pickering. “We support the call here.”
Many also stated that, while the war is overseas, people in the United States should advocate for justice.
“I have to stress the urgency,” resident Brian Keisling said. “We need something that is immediate. We need something that is permanent, and it has to be bold. Our city has to take a stance that is bold because we understand that injustice anywhere is injustice everywhere.”
Also on Tuesday, council voted to approve two resolutions allowing the city to hire contractors for a project to upgrade FNB Field on City Island. Harrisburg-based Alexander Building Construction Co. will serve as construction manager, at a cost of $712,888 and EwingCole will serve as the architect for the project, at a cost of $1.06 million.
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