Flanked by their families, caregivers and other residents of Brooklyn’s 9th District, yesterday children hand-delivered petitions from more than 1,400 district residents with thousands of signatures demanding that Rep. Yvette Clarke call for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza and an end to the starvation siege. Over one hundred participants returned to Clarke’s doorstep this morning, following multiple other visits, to deliver a strong message: “Enough! When will you stand with your constituents and the families of Palestine?!”

Over 18,000 Palestinians have now been killed in just the past two months, nearly half of whom are children. The death toll in Gaza has nearly doubled since Brooklyn families for Palestine last gathered at Yvette Clarke’s office on Election Day last month. And yet Rep. Clarke still hasn’t called for a ceasefire.

An upsurge of intense sadness and anger in Clarke’s district over the slaughter of children in Gaza has led to this petition drive. Clarke’s 9th District represents diverse communities including Muslim, Jewish, Caribbean, Black, Asian, African, white, and more. The 9th district includes parts of Sheepshead Bay, Gerritsen Beach, Brownsville, Crown Heights, East Flatbush, Flatbush, Kensington, Midwood, Prospect Heights, Prospect Lefferts Gardens and Park Slope.

The event centered both the children of Palestine and the words of children of Brooklyn’s District 9. Irene, of Jewish Voice for Peace, read some of the names and ages of Palestinian children killed since October 26th. Participants also read letters from District 9 children to Palestinian children and Rep. Clarke:

“Your decisions hurt Palestinian kids, and that makes me feel sad. For the holidays this year, I want you to stop bombing kids in Palestine.” – Letter from a Brooklyn child to Rep. Clarke

Brooklyn families and other District 9 residents vowed to keep coming back.

“The only thing that gives me hope right now is being surrounded by people who are also saying no to genocide, who are not sleeping, who are not okay, and who will not stand by while more than 18,000 people are being murdered with our tax dollars and because of the lack of political will of our leaders. Representative Clarke, we say no! We say Ceasefire Now!” – Emma, District 9 resident

Photos & Videos of the Action available here.

At least 62 Members of Congress have called for a ceasefire or cessation of hostilities. The pressure on Congress and the Biden administration is growing - let's keep it up! In addition to signing the petition, please call your members of Congress: 202-224-3121 (Congressional switchboard) and urge them to call for an immediate permanent ceasefire.

See the BFP Statement: BFP Calls for a Ceasefire, De-escalation, & Addressing the Root Causes of Violence in Palestine & Israel.

This Wednesday is the final chance for the NYC Council to pass Res. 423 to Move the Money. JOIN US ON WED. 12/20 FOR A RALLY AT 11 AM in City Hall Park to demand that we MOVE THE MONEY from war spending to human spending. At a hearing earlier this week more than thirty people from across the city turned out to testify about results of the underfunding of housing, schools, transportation, and cultural institutions, while the Pentagon is voted more money than it even asked for.

THIS IS OUR FINAL PUSH TO PASS RES. 423. JOIN US TO DEMAND THAT WE MOVE THE MONEY!

Brooklyn For Peace continues to support a ceasefire and negotiations to end the war in Ukraine. If you haven't done so already, please sign our petition to Congress. Thank you!