More than two months after storming out of a Waukegan City Council meeting after their request for a resolution supporting a ceasefire in the Israel-Hamas war was rejected, more than 50 members of the group returned to City Hall Monday with a peaceful protest and prayer.
As the council and its Committee of the Whole were meeting in the City Council Chambers on the second floor, the protesters were assembled in the outdoor plaza beneath the meeting room with full knowledge of the gathering above.
“From Lebanon to Palestine, stop the U.S. war machine,” the group chanted.
“Say it louder, say it clear, liberation is near,” said a man who identified himself only as Hasan. “Say it louder so they can hear you up there.”
The protesters gathered outdoors one year to the day Hamas fighters entered Israel killing 1,200 people and taking 240 more hostage to make sure their side of the story is told.
“We want to be able to control the narrative and tell the story,” Hasan said. “For the last 76 years, the Palestinians have not had a homeland since Israel was created. What happened on Oct. 7 was an act of liberation.”
People began to assemble on the plaza at around 5:45 p.m. Monday. Within 30 minutes, about 50 were there holding signs reading, “End the war on Gaza & Lebanon,” “Palestine Will Be Free,” “End All U.S. Aid to Israel,” and more.
After rallying with chants and short speeches for about 15 minutes, the group grew quiet. Some removed their keffiyeh to be used as prayer rugs, and sunset prayer began. When done, there were more speeches and chants.
As the council meeting began, it proceeded without interruption from the gathering below, though the group’s chants could be heard. Some members of the group said when they first gathered, there was no plan to go to the council meeting and speak during the public comment portion of the agenda.
Mayor Ann Taylor said after the meeting the demonstrators were within their rights, as the rally took place at the same time Jewish groups in the northern suburbs were holding memorial ceremonies for those killed on Oct. 7 of last year.
“They are entitled to their free speech,” Taylor said of the protesters. “It’s Oct. 7,and the hostages aren’t free. It’s time to free the hostages, stop the violence (and get) rid of all the hate.”
Waukegan residents and others first came to City Hall on May 6 asking the council to pass a resolution supporting a ceasefire in the war. Taylor said at the time she did not think the city should be taking action on foreign affairs. It should stick to solving the city’s problems, she said.
Council members could make an effort to put it on the agenda if they wished, the mayor said.
Returning twice in June and once in early July, the pro-Palestinian group continued to be disappointed there was no resolution on the agenda. By July 15, a proposal was set for a vote after Ald. Victor Felix, 4th Ward, wrote it and got enough support from his colleagues to start a discussion on the issue.
After most of the pro-ceasefire group left because some of the time for audience comment was postponed until later in the meeting, they took their cause to the street. The council voted 4-3 with two abstentions against the resolution.
