The City Council yesterday formally recognized Eid Al-Fitr, the end of the Muslim sacred month of Ramadan - after Councilor Tania Fernandes Anderson (Roxbury), who is Muslim, gave an impassioned plea on behalf of the people of Gaza.
Only Councilor Ed Flynn (South Boston, South End, Chinatown, Downtown) voted against the resolution - an anodyne explanation of the holiday sponsored by Fernandes Anderson to formally recognize the holiday as "a citywide observance highlights Boston's commitment to inclusivity, diversity, and religious freedom, fostering a welcoming and inclusive environment where people of all faiths feel valued, respected, and celebrated."
Flynn did not rise to say why he did not support the resolution, unlike a few minutes later, when he rose to enthusiastically support another resolution honoring Polish Constitution Day and the "enormous contributions" Poles have made to Boston and to the US. He never fails to praise groups that live in his district - and he noted with pride his district now includes part of the Polish Triangle. The Polish resolution passed unanimously.
Fernandes Anderson began her request for support of the resolution by introducing the basics of holiday, that it's more than just a big feast after fasting, in fact is a way for Muslims to share "a sense of unity and reflection as we come together in devotion to God."
But she said she could not truly celebrate the holiday this year because of what is happening in Gaza. "I'm sorry that I can't get up and cheer, as I usually do, for Eid."
She said that after the Hamas murder raids of Oct. 7, Bostonians and their elected officials came together to condemn what had happened, and rightly so. "We faced the death and destruction of that day, and we condemn it, it was wrong and it's horrible what happened and we should support Israelis," she said.
But then, she continued, where was the support for Gaza even before Oct. 7, when Israeli troops routinely killed Palestinians. And where is the condemnation of what is going on now, she asked, pointing to more than 40,000 deaths, the complete destruction of schools, hospitals, homes, mosques, churches and workplaces, the starvation of children, the murder of aid workers, the displacement of hundreds of thousands of people?
And so, she said, when it came time to raise that first bite of food to break the long fast, and here she began to tear up, "you remember people in Sudan are suffering, people in Congo are suffering, children are being starved, literally no purpose, in Gaza, in Gaza but also in the West Bank now."
She continued, "I ask that God forgives us for every bit of responsibility that we have in this" - and asked that unnamed fellow councilors stop harassing her on social media and in comments to reporters.
Councilor Ben Weber (Jamaica Plain, West Roxbury), who is Jewish, praised Fernandes Anderson's comments and agreed that even Boston city councilors should speak out on such horrific happenings.
"All of us have been impacted by what is going on in Gaza, especially Jews and Muslims," he said. "It's been hell that just never ends, it's something that's on the front of everyone's minds."
"I hope all Muslims find some peace on this eid. Jews go into Passover in a couple weeks, we're going to be feeling the same pain," he said.
And he said federal officials, including the president, should do everything it can to end the Gaza crisis and bring humanitarian aid to its residents.
Councilor Liz Breadon (Allston/Brighton), who fled sectarian violence in Northern Ireland, said she found it difficult to speak. "I think so many of us are just at a loss for words with the immensity of this drama, with the immensity of this crisis, with the immensity of this human catastrophe that folks in Gaza are experiencing right now."
"We all need to hold space so we can acknowledge the trauma, the grief, the profound sorrow and pain that is happening" - and to fight to get humanitarian aid and food into Gaza, she said.
City Council President Ruthzee Louijeune said "the image of young people, of babies starving and not having the food they need is unacceptable" in Gaza as well as in Haiti and Sudan. She acknowledged the Boston City Council may have little direct role in getting aid flowing, but said that's not going to stop her from speaking on issues like this.
Discussion on the Eid resolution:
Watch the Polish discussion.
