Pro-Palestine group ‘outraged’ by Evansville City Council’s decision to suspend comments on ceasefire solution

EVANSVILLE, Ind. (WEHT) – Evansville City Council members denied those supporting Palestine in the war in Gaza the opportunity to speak at a meeting Monday night.

Pro-Palestine supporters walked out of the Evansville City Council meeting “disgusted” after a motion was passed that would prevent them from speaking before the city council on the issue of a ceasefire solution between Israel and Hamas.

Council President Zac Heronemus said in accordance with the ordinance that the council “will not hear any comments related to the ceasefire, which has not been formally implemented, as it does not have the necessary support to comment.”

We are told that months of fighting to be heard were interrupted when Heronemus spoke to the audience. He said the proposed ceasefire solution does not currently have the required number of supporters in the council to be considered. Therefore, no further comments on this issue would be heard until then. Heronemus further encouraged the group to continue reaching out to other council members for support.

Councilwoman Mary Allen made a motion to continue allowing the group to speak at meetings, but the motion ultimately failed. Allen told our team off-camera that she stands by her decision to file this motion because it is her job as council members to listen to her constituents.

Some members of the group spoke up as they left the room. One person called the council members “cowards.”

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