Council Member Hanif speaks on Netanyahu visit and Gaza
Shahana Hanif describes joining civil disobedience against Prime Minister Netanyahu's visit, calls for an end to U.S. arms shipments to Israel, and argues local issues like food assistance and housing are connected to war spending.
Thank you, Majority Leader.
This morning, I joined council colleagues, state legislators, future members of Congress, including Brad Lander and Chris Rabb, and hundreds of New Yorkers in an act of civil disobedience to reject Prime Minister Netanyahu's visit to our city
and appearance before the UN.
Together, we called for an end to U.S.
Arms shipments to Israel and an end to the genocide of the Palestinian people.
We can't allow business as usual during a genocide.
Millions of people are being displaced and killed across the region.
Our federal government has the power to stop it.
This is a local issue, too.
Our constituents are being told there is not enough money for food assistance, health care, schools, or housing.
Yet, there's always money for more bombs.
Those are choices, and New Yorkers are living with the consequences.
We will not be silent while the Trump administration cuts lifelines at home and funds devastation abroad.
New Yorkers are done paying for endless war.
It is time to block the bombs, divest from genocide and endless wars, and invest in life.
Thank you.