SACRAMENTO – Sacramento Mayor Darrell Steinberg cleared the council chambers over outbursts during a debate over his proposed Gaza ceasefire resolution Tuesday night. Twelve people were arrested, police say.
The decision to clear the chamber of members of the public during Tuesday night's meeting came after he delivered several warnings from the dias.
The Sacramento Police Department said that happened at around 9 p.m. but a dozen people remained in the chambers and were arrested shortly before 11 p.m., charged with unlawful assembly and failure to disperse and booked into the Sacramento County Jail.
The chambers were completely cleared by around 11 p.m. and the meeting resumed just before 11:30 p.m.
Supporters and opponents of the resolution had packed the chambers to capacity, often erupting in chants and shouts with signs of solidarity.
Mayor Steinberg's resolution attempts to approach the war in what his office calls a "balanced" manner. Steinberg says he recognizes the sovereignty of Israel and an independent Palestine state but also calls for the condemnation of the Oct. 7 attacks.
A plea for the release of all hostages, a remembrance of the lives lost, and a call to end rising antisemitism and Islamophobia echoes through the room.
Supporters and opponents take turns expressing their views to the city council. Raymond Lee stands in opposition, finding satisfaction in the discussions that took place before the chambers were emptied.
"I believe the situation is unfolding as expected given the turbulent circumstances," Lee remarked. "We are all aware of the volatility of this situation."
On the other hand, Scott Anglim stands in support of the resolution.
"I believe everyone present shares the common belief that every individual deserves peace, dignity, and freedom, and they are expressing it as such," Anglim stated.
The mayor explains that the ceasefire resolution aims to unite Sacramento's interfaith community. The resolution was introduced with the support of a coalition of interfaith leaders, including Sacramento's Council on American Islamic Relations.
However, the Jewish Federation of Sacramento stands in opposition.
"The resolution we are presenting tonight, that I am presenting tonight, does not claim to resolve the conflicts in the Middle East," Steinberg stated earlier in the day. "This is about Sacramento."
Prior to Tuesday's meeting, Councilmember Lisa Kaplan released a detailed statement expressing her disapproval of the resolution.
"Let us unite as leaders in Sacramento and focus on issues within our control, rather than getting involved in the conflict in the Middle East, which this resolution will not impact," expressed Kaplan. "While I do not think it is the Council's role to intervene in international conflicts, I do support resolutions that have the consensus of leaders from both sides. Unfortunately, such a resolution is not on the table tonight."
