Hilliard resolution on Passover condemning Mideast violence sparks call for resignation
It wasn't so much the content but the timing of a Hilliard City Council resolution condemning the violence between Israelis and Palestinians that brought criticism from Columbus' largest Jewish-American support organization.
It also brought an apology Tuesday morning.
April 22 was the first day of Passover, a major Jewish holiday, that ends Tuesday. It also was the evening of the City Council vote. The timing, Jewish leaders say, was insensitive to the Jewish community because the holiday prohibits those in the Jewish faith from leaving their homes, preventing them from providing input.
The resolution, similar to one passed last month by Columbus City Council, calls for an end to hostilities in the region.
Hilliard's version condemns "Hamas’ terrorist attacks on Israel and hostage-taking of innocent civilians onOctober 7." At the same time it condemns "the ongoing humanitarian crisis and the killing of Palestinian civilians in Gaza over the last six months of military warfare."
The resolution, sponsored and introduced by Council President Cynthia Vermillion, states in part: "constituents in Hilliard across diverse communities who are calling for peace, whose loved ones were killed in the worsening conflict, whose families are experiencing famine and devastation, and who have been personally threatened and fear violence … we stand united against anti-Semitism, Islamophobia, and anti-Palestinian and anti-Israelibigotry."
The language was swiftly criticized by Columbus Jewish Community Relations Council.
"It is about the insensitivity displayed by the Council President in bringing forth a matter so deeply significant to the Jewish people on a night of profound religious significance, and intentionally excluding Jewish voices from being heard," wrote Andrea Britcher and Jonathan Feibel, co-chairs of Jewish Community Relations Council.
The organization had objected to previous instances of Jewish members not being allowed to to speak during meetings in Hilliard — where the state offices for the Council on American-Islamic Relations are located and which has a significant Palestinian population.
The Jewish Community council, also known as Jewish Columbus, sought an apology from City Council and resignation of Vermillion, a request to which Vermillion responded.
In a statement on Hilliard's website, she described "inappropriate timing and disregard for our Jewish neighbors. My actions have hurt people who celebrate a faith that I respect and admire."
"I now realize that it lacked empathy and an understanding of the importance of Passover to our Jewish community. The timing excluded our Jewish neighbors from having their voices heard on a topic that affects their family, friends, and faith community."
Jewish Columbus leaders have said that resolution and actions of City Council have caused "lasting harm. Due to this grave failure of leadership and intentional exclusion of Jewish voices, we demand the immediate resignation of the Council President," according to a letter sent to the city.
Vermillion's statement made no mention of resignation but said she's "committed to learning from my mistakes and will approach future topics with greater sensitivity to those of all views." Cultural awareness and sensitivity training will be offered to all members of council and city leadership team.
Council member Les Carrier, who voted against the resolution, said he did so because "no resolution should have been brought at all. It's not our purview.
"International affairs are just that."
dnarciso@dispatch.com
This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: Jewish group condemns Passover resolution in Hilliard on Mideast
