In a stunning turn of events, Congressman Emanuel Cleaver of Kansas City, historically aligned with Israel, has dramatically shifted his stance by endorsing a ceasefire in the ongoing genocide of Palestinians.
At a crucial meeting today, Cleaver faced a powerful coalition demanding change. The meeting, held in Cleaver’s local office, was attended by a diverse group of faith leaders and Palestinian-American activists, including Sara Jawhari, Fatema AbuHamda, Dr. Reem Mustafa, Dr. Nadia Igram, Dr. Fatima Mohammadi, Maha Odah, Suhaib Azzeb, Dr. Majdi Hamarshi, Dr. Moussa Elbayoumy, Khatib Feras ElGhussein, Layla Allen, Imam Hanif Khalil, Rev. Dr. Tex Sample, and Rev. Dr. Vernon Howard.
These attendees shared harrowing accounts of the ongoing genocide in Gaza and its devastating impact on their families, painting a vivid picture of the human cost of the conflict. Their stories ranged from loss of family members in Israeli airstrikes to the dire consequences of attacks on medical infrastructure, underlining the urgent need for humanitarian aid.
Their call was unequivocal: an immediate ceasefire in Gaza, the withdrawal of the controversial House Bill 6367, support for the Ceasefire Now Resolution, and a sustained push for humanitarian aid. Cleaver’s response, conceding to most of these demands, signals a significant shift in his political posture and reflects the growing influence of grassroots movements on global policy decisions.
Cleaver’s stance signifies more than a mere political pivot; it represents a seismic shift in the narrative surrounding the genocide. In a further demonstration of his responsiveness to community input, Rep. Cleaver has also committed to withdrawing HR 6367, a resolution he introduced to fund state hosts of displaced persons. His decision followed insights from Palestinian leaders on the resolution’s shortcomings, showcasing his willingness to adapt his legislative actions based on informed community feedback.
Representative Cleaver’s decision comes in the wake of persistent and increasingly escalating actions from his constituents. Over the past weeks, Kansas City has witnessed daily actions, rallies, direct actions and hundreds of calls urging Cleaver to adopt a public stance on the ceasefire. A notable moment in this campaign was a sit-in at Cleaver’s office, a direct plea for his engagement on this pressing issue.
AlHadaf KC, a local Palestinian-led organization, issued a statement praising Rep. Cleaver’s moral leadership and his commitment to supporting a ceasefire.
“The community of Rep. Cleaver’s district is united across faith, race, class, and zip code in our demand for a ceasefire. The US should immediately apply pressure, as only we can, on Netanyahu’s government to stop the killings and end the siege of Gaza. The US must also apply pressure for an end to the ongoing Israeli occupation, and do so by withholding financial and diplomatic support.
We thank our Congressman for his moral leadership on this issue. Today he told us that he will support a ceasefire. We commend his clarity, and we commit to support him in any way possible to ensure that the violence ends and humanitarian relief can begin in earnest. We are so grateful for Rep. Cleaver’s willingness to hear our stories and take part in this ongoing conversation.”
Cleaver’s change of heart, a confluence of moral imperative and political pressure, exemplifies a broader trend of shifting attitudes towards the crisis. It’s a testament to the tenacity and influence of radical community building and a beacon of hope for those yearning for a cessation of the horrifying genocide against the Palestinian people.
Read Cleaver’s most recent full statement below;
“Since October 7, I’ve watched in horror the devastation that Hamas terrorists have inflicted upon innocent civilians in both Israel and Gaza, my heart breaking as loved ones are held hostage and families are torn apart. From the very beginning of this conflict, I have stated that Israel has an absolute right to exist and defend its people and the more than 200 individuals that were ruthlessly ripped from their homes and taken hostage. I still believe that.”
“I have also said that the Palestinian people should not be equated with Hamas, and that the United States must use our diplomatic capabilities to de-escalate the conflict and provide humanitarian relief to Palestinian civilians as we support Israel’s efforts to defend itself, defeat Hamas, and return hostages back home. And we must do so while holding our ally to the highest standards of international conflict, as to minimize civilian casualties in Gaza to the greatest extent possible. I still believe that as well.”
“Over a month later, with each passing day, I have become even more distressed at the horrific loss of life and increasingly concerned that a protracted conflict will only further inflame an already sharp rise in Antisemitic and Islamophobic attacks in the U.S and around the world, worsen the humanitarian crisis at hand, and risk a widening conflict that will only cause more death and destruction to innocent Palestinian and Israeli civilians alike. As I said last month: Violence only begets more violence.
“Having spent decades as a faith leader, fundamentally, I believe we are all children of the world and all worthy of love and peace. The world has already seen enough death and suffering. Today, I am calling on the Biden Administration to use every diplomatic tool available to encourage an immediate, bilateral ceasefire in exchange for the release of innocent hostages and necessary sustained humanitarian aid into Gaza. My hope is that this ceasefire will enable the difficult but necessary work of a negotiated, durable agreement to move forward and provide a framework for long term peace and a two-state solution — something that I strongly support.”
