(Participants in a Bridgewater rally on January 14. Photo: contributed by South Shore Ceasefire Now)
The Town of Bridgewater called for a sustainable ceasefire in Gaza in January, following community action including several local rallies and a presentation in December by the group South Shore Ceasefire Now (SSCN).
At a town council meeting on Jan. 15, Town of Bridgewater Council unanimously passed a motion to approve a statement supporting the federal government’s call for a “sustainable ceasefire.”
The vote followed Mayor David Mitchell reading a draft statement. The statement reads, in part:
“On December 12, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand called for a ‘sustainable ceasefire,’ the unconditional release of all remaining hostages, and that safe and unimpeded humanitarian access into Gaza must be increased and sustained.”
The Town of Bridgewater supports the position of our federal government and hopes that peace, a lasting cessation of fighting along with the delivery of aid to the region materializes quickly.”
Bridgewater’s decision followed a presentation to council by SSCN on Dec. 11 asking the Town to “write a letter to Prime Minister Justin Trudeau to request the federal government call for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza, the release of all hostages, and the flow of humanitarian aid.”
SSCN issued a statement in response following Bridgewater’s decision in January.
“While SSCN welcomes the release of this public statement, the council mentioned no plans to write directly to the Prime Minister’s Office regarding this matter, as we had requested, perhaps feeling it was no longer necessary after the joint statement was released for a Ceasefire,” reads the statement.
“We hope that they still may decide to send a letter affirming their position that Canada must support all endeavors towards a ceasefire. For SSCN these endeavors include arms embargoes, the end of Canadian military support, sanctions against Israel and explicit support for the ICJ case of Genocide presented by South Africa.”
On Jan. 14, 110 community members organised by SSCN gathered outside Bridgewater Town Hall to march towards the office of Rick Perkins, Member of Parliament for South Shore-St. Margarets.
The march was the fifth event organised by SSCN which have included rallies, postcard writing campaigns and a vigil.
According to their Instagram account, SSCN will continue to organise community action.
They state their hope is for “an end of the occupation, a lifting of the siege, sanctions, arms embargoes and for the bombs to stop dropping.”
In December, Canada joined 152 other countries in voting in favour of a UN General Assembly resolution calling for an immediate ceasefire and release of all hostages.
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