The Chicago City Council has passed a totally pointless resolution urging a ceasefire in Gaza, marking it as the most substantial municipal body in the United States to advocate for such action.
The decision came after a closely contested vote that concluded with a tie of 23 in favor and 23 against. This deadlock prompted Democratic Mayor Brandon Johnson to step in and cast the decisive vote in support of the resolution, although it remains entirely symbolic in nature.
The announcement of the vote’s outcome was met with applause in the council chamber. This event highlighted the culmination of months of debate and a particularly heated council meeting that saw the removal of spectators from the premises.
Jake Sheridan, the reporter who documented the event on social media, noted, “Chicago becomes the largest American city to call for a Gaza cease-fire after a monthslong debate [and] a tense meeting where spectators were cleared out.” He also remarked on the resolution’s significance for local pro-Palestine organizations and progressive members of the council, calling it a “huge win.”
Around 70 U.S. cities have adopted resolutions concerning the Israel-Gaza conflict, the majority of which call for a ceasefire.
It’s worth noting that Chicago has already experienced a staggering 28 people shot to death in 2024 – that’s nearly 1 dead person each day. In 2023, there were 2,883 shooting victims in Chicago, resulting in the murder of 671 people, or about 2 every day. In other words, the inept Chicago Council ignored their own war zone and instead is focusing on trying to solve another.
Below is a recap of the shooting Chicago saw just this past weekend (via CBS News):

