The Dallas City Council was again visited by anti-Israel activists and speakers during Wednesday’s council meeting, culminating in their removal from the council chambers.
More than 20 activists spoke before the council during open microphone, advocating for Dallas to support a ceasefire in the Israel-Hamas conflict in Gaza. After the speakers used their allotted time, activists in the council chambers began shouting and were subsequently escorted out of the chambers by Dallas police officers.
“Free, Free, Palestine!” the activists shouted at council members.
One speaker was escorted out by police after refusing to leave the microphone when his two minutes of speaking time ran out.
“By refusing to call for a ceasefire, you are complicit in this genocide, and you have blood on your hands,” speaker Rayhanah Atiyani charged. “We will keep showing up until we see an end to this genocide, so please have a heart and take the time to call for a permanent ceasefire.”
“From the river to the sea, Palestine will be free,” she concluded.
One speaker, Tina Solorio, called council members “heartless people.” Other speakers voiced support for Council Member Adam Bazaldua’s proposed resolution condemning violence against the “innocent civilians in Gaza.”
However, Bazaldua’s resolution has reportedly failed to gain traction with the rest of the horseshoe.
In a previous statement to The Dallas Express, Council Member Cara Mendelsohn noted, “This action would take the signatures of 5 council members, and I am not aware of an interest by others to do that.”
Council Member Mendelsohn also said previously that the behavior of these activists “is that of bullies” and made note of their continued refusal to stand for the Pledge of Allegiance at the beginning of council meetings.
“The pro-Palestinian protesters’ refusal to stand during the Pledge of Allegiance is both telling and ironic,” she said. “Telling because they do not support our country and ironic because it is our commitment to our republic and democracy that allows them to conduct protests and the freedom to say whatever they want during our public comment period.”
As previously reported by DX, the Dallas City Council adopted a resolution condemning Hamas shortly after the events of October 7. As the ensuing conflict between Israel and Hamas has continued, activists have held numerous protests at City Hall and throughout Dallas.
