City Council meeting, October 13, 2023
- When: Fri, Oct 13, 2023, 1:40 PM (Chicago time)
- Where: City Council Chamber, 2nd Floor, City Hall, 121 North LaSalle Street - Chicago, IL 60602
- Status: Scheduled & Published
- Body: full City Council
- Video: https://vimeo.com/manage/videos/874160811
- Transcript: full text (20,803 words, official captions)
Meeting notes
AI-written from the transcript. Speakers are inferred from cues in the recording, so treat names as estimates and check the video at the linked time.
The City Council held a special meeting called by the mayor with Alderpersons Silverstein, Lopez and Villegas to consider a resolution condemning Hamas's October 7 attack on Israel. Ten public commenters spoke for and against the resolution, and the chair warned the gallery about disruptions and later had the chamber floor cleared during debate. A motion to suspend the rules for immediate consideration received 33 yeas, which the chair ruled short of the 34 required; after the chair's ruling was appealed, members voted 25 to 18 as read aloud to overrule it, allowing the resolution to be read and debated. Supporters described the attack and Israel's right to defend itself, while some members, including Fuentes, Rodríguez Sánchez, Sigcho-López, Gutiérrez and Gardiner, said they condemned Hamas but could not support the resolution because of its stance on the Israeli government and the situation in Gaza. The resolution passed by voice vote, and Alderperson Raymond A. Lopez responded under Rule 13 to remarks by Alderperson Jeylú B. Gutiérrez before adjournment.
Topics: Israel and Gaza resolution, Hamas attack, Humanitarian crisis in Gaza, Suspension of the rules, Appeal of chair ruling, Council decorum, Public comment
Agenda items discussed
- 13:48 Motion to allow six alderpersons to participate remotely: passed
- 19:35 Reading of the call for the special meeting
- 20:23 Public comment: discussed
- 1:00:34 Motion to suspend the rules for immediate consideration of the resolution condemning Hamas's attack on Israel: failed
- 1:08:02 Renewed motion to suspend the rules: failed
- 1:12:48 Appeal of the chair's ruling that 34 votes were required to suspend the rules: passed
- 1:22:22 Resolution condemning Hamas's attack on Israel: passed
Alderpersons who spoke
- Jason C. Ervin (alderperson): Asked whether the appeal required a two-thirds vote or simple majority, and asked the parliamentarian to read the rule requiring 34 votes. (1:13:37); Said the Council should not stay silent when a member brings forward an atrocity affecting her community, citing historic ties between Black and Jewish communities in North Lawndale. (2:47:32)
- Anthony Beale (alderperson): Said the earlier vote was still open and that the chair could cast a vote to reach 34. (1:09:22)
- Nicholas Sposato (alderperson): Commended the chair's handling of the meeting and said he stands with Israel and with Silverstein. (2:25:09)
- Debra L. Silverstein (alderperson): Moved to suspend the rules for immediate consideration of her resolution condemning Hamas's attack on Israel. (1:00:34); Described a Holocaust survivor's testimony at the Illinois Holocaust Museum and said the resolution is about Israel versus Hamas, not Israel versus Palestine. (1:29:02); Described killings in Israeli communities, hostages including two Evanston residents, and family members called to reserve duty, and urged colleagues to support the resolution. (1:46:00)
- Bennett R. Lawson (alderperson): Supported the resolution, describing fear in his community, and said one can disagree with Israeli government policy while condemning terrorism. (1:49:06)
- Daniel La Spata (alderperson): Unequivocally condemned Hamas's violence and also called for an end to violence against Palestinians by the Israeli government, saying criticism of that government is not antisemitic. (1:51:37)
- Matthew J. O'Shea (alderperson): Cited Irish history with British colonialism and said terrorism is never justified, supporting the resolution and Silverstein. (1:58:38)
- Jessica L. Fuentes (alderperson): Condemned Hamas's violence and also condemned occupation and conditions in Gaza, saying she could not support the resolution while expressing solidarity with Silverstein. (2:01:31)
- Rossana Rodríguez Sánchez (alderperson): Said members are united in condemning Hamas's violence but objected that the resolution puts the city in support of the Israeli government during the bombing of Gaza, and asked to be recorded as no. (2:05:59)
- Brian Hopkins (alderperson): Gave unequivocal support, comparing the national response to the Iran hostage crisis and 9/11, and said it should not be hard to condemn terrorism. (2:09:23); Described reviewing videos of hostages identified by The Washington Post, including nine children. (2:12:24)
- Byron Sigcho-López (alderperson): Condemned the violence against Israelis but said genocide is not self-defense, criticized Prime Minister Netanyahu and arms dealers, and called for an end to the occupation. (2:14:14)
- William E. Hall (alderperson): Said he does not support any terrorist group that sheds innocent blood, whether in Gaza or on 75th Street, and called for policies to stop it. (2:23:00)
- Raymond A. Lopez (alderperson): Said the Council cannot make excuses for Hamas and criticized members he said were rationalizing the attack. (2:28:35); Said one can support both Israeli and Palestinian people seeking peace but that the attacks demand consequences, and called it shameful the question was divided. (2:33:15); Responded under Rule 13 to Alderperson Jeylú B. Gutiérrez remarks, calling her accusations about his character unacceptable. (3:04:48)
- Nicole T. Lee (alderperson): As a co-sponsor, condemned Hamas's attack and also expressed heartbreak over the humanitarian crisis in Gaza, asking that all communities facing heightened threats be protected. (2:39:15)
- Gilbert Villegas (alderperson): Drawing on his military service and a visit to the region, called Hamas a terrorist group and said Israel is a democratic ally the city should stand with. (2:41:36)
- William Conway (alderperson): As a Navy intelligence officer, described rocket attacks on Israel and said the resolution is about condemning terrorism, not the broader conflict. (2:44:58)
- Jeylú B. Gutiérrez (alderperson): Called Hamas's actions terrorism but said Israel's tactics in Gaza amount to a humanitarian catastrophe and she could not support the resolution. (2:51:07); Criticized Lopez for not responding similarly to earlier antisemitic remarks attributed to former Alderman Burke. (2:53:05)
- James M. Gardiner (alderperson): Thanked Silverstein but said Palestinian constituents in his ward do not support the resolution and he could not support it. (2:53:34)
- Brendan Reilly (alderperson): Said the resolution condemns a terrorist organization, not the Palestinian people, and that a debate over a two-state solution should happen another day. (2:55:43)
Exchanges between members
- 1:51:12 Lawson thanked Silverstein for bringing the resolution forward and said she would not be alone.
- 2:00:55 O'Shea said he stands in support of Silverstein and the resolution.
- 2:05:28 Fuentes told Silverstein she would always be in solidarity with her but could not support the resolution.
- 2:08:31 Rodríguez Sánchez said she agreed with Fuentes's position.
- 2:08:35 Rodríguez Sánchez told Silverstein she was sorry for the pain she and the Jewish community were experiencing while opposing the resolution.
- 2:09:23 Hopkins supported Silverstein's resolution and praised her resolve.
- 2:14:57 Sigcho-López referenced Fuentes's remarks condemning the violence against Israelis.
- 2:27:58 Sposato told Silverstein he stands with her completely.
- 2:35:32 Lopez thanked Silverstein for presenting the resolution and said he firmly supports it.
- 2:44:31 Villegas thanked Silverstein for bringing the resolution forward.
- 2:46:29 Conway referenced Hopkins's description of the attack videos.
- 2:47:17 Conway thanked Silverstein for her leadership.
- 2:50:26 Ervin expressed hope the Council would support Silverstein and her community.
- 2:53:05 Gutiérrez criticized Lopez, contrasting his remarks with his response to earlier comments by former Alderman Burke.
- 2:54:00 Gardiner thanked Silverstein for being a voice for the Jewish community before stating his opposition.
- 2:57:45 Reilly echoed O'Shea's point about Irish history with British colonialism.
- 2:58:56 Reilly thanked Silverstein for bringing the resolution forward despite being heckled.
- 3:05:06 Lopez responded to Gutiérrez under Rule 13, calling her remarks about him unacceptable.