Local community leaders pushed to respond to ceasefire demands, hints at possible joint city statement

(Fargo, ND) -- Public pressure is forcing local governmental leaders to weigh their options for a potential response to the ongoing war in Israel and the Gaza strip. 

Some members of the Fargo community are pushing for the adoption of a ceasefire resolution between Israel and Hamas. CODEPINK, a national anti-war group with a recently established chapter in the Fargo-Moorhead metro, has attended multiple local commission and council meetings with the goal of getting ceasefire resolutions passed by city governments and institutions.

Fargo Mayor Tim Mahoney made new comments on The Flag's Steve Hallstrom show, saying there might be a joint statement from local mayors on the issue. Mayor Mahoney offered the potential for a statement as a compromise, elaborating by saying community members need to feel heard, but also balance that with the role of the City Commission.

"This has become an issue in the community and people have made quite a fuss about it, "said Mahoney. "It's usually not our position [to comment], a nonpartisan partisan government and we necessarily don't get involved in these types of issues at all. The mayors might come out with a statement and that will be the end of it."

"I don't really want to get involved in national politics. You guys usually like to ask me about floods or snowstorms or those types of things," joked Mahoney. " Those are the issues we usually address, and that is where we will stay."

Moorhead Mayor Shelly Carlson also addressed CODEPINK members who spoke at the February 26th City Council meeting. Mayor Carlson says she has connected with other "local government partners" to look at possible ways to make progress on the issue. A similar statement Mayor Mahoney made at the February 20th City Commission meeting "We continue to advocate for a negotiated settlement which will finally bring peace to this area of the world, and to that end, I am collaborating with our Metro Government partners on potential steps forward.". 

So far, the biggest success from CODEPINK has been from the Fargo Human Rights Commission, who adopted a ceasefire resolution to present to the Fargo City Commission. The group is expected to march to Moorhead City Hall on Thursday to push the city's human rights commission to adopt a ceasefire resolution. 

You can read more about CODEPINK's activities at local government meeting by clicking here.