From: Tamar Krige
To: Alex Stillman; Meredith Matthews; Stacy Atkins-Salazar; Kimberley White Cc: City Manager"s Office
Subject: Ceasefire resolution
Date: Tuesday, March 17, 2026 2:56:55 PM
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Arcata City Council:
I want to begin by stating clearly: I do not support war. I believe that conflict is not resolved through violence, but through agreement, dialogue, and diplomatic solutions. That belief is not abstract; it comes from personal experience. Having been exposed to war, I understand its long-term consequences, the trauma it leaves behind and the way it reshapes lives for years, even generations.
At the same time, I must express deep concern about the proposed ceasefire resolution (RESOLUTION NO. 256-50). When such resolutions are advanced by individuals who do not fully understand the complexities and nuances of the conflict, they risk doing far more harm than good. Oversimplified approaches to deeply layered issues often inflame tensions rather than resolve them.
It is increasingly evident that this proposal is being driven by a narrow set of interests that have contributed to the defamation of Israel, a Jewish state, and Zionism within our local community. This is not theoretical; it is something I have witnessed repeatedly and directly.
The City has also failed to enforce its own standards in spaces under its oversight. It leases the farmers market to the North Coast Growers’ Association for a clear and specific purpose: to support local agriculture, small businesses, and community connection. Yet that space has been repeatedly used as a platform for organized political messaging that targets and alienates members of the community. This has been persistent and visible.
By allowing this to continue, the City has neglected its responsibility to ensure that the use of this public space aligns with its intended purpose. It has effectively permitted a small but highly vocal group to appropriate a community environment and turn it into a stage for one-sided advocacy. A farmers market should be a place that brings people together, not one that fosters division or exclusion.
In addition, there is a troubling pattern involving individuals affiliated with the Redwood Peace and Justice Coalition who have previously appeared at the City Council podium. Based on what I have observed, including the materials and screenshots I am providing, some of these individuals are contributing to a climate of hostility within the community. While they present themselves under the banner of “peace and justice,” their actions have reflected targeted antagonism, particularly toward those who identify as Zionists.
This contradiction is deeply concerning and the intent and credibility of members of the Redwood Peace and Justice Coalition should be questioned. Advocacy for peace should not manifest as the targeting or harassment of members of a specific group. When rhetoric or behavior singles out individuals, it does not build understanding; it only deepens division and erodes trust within the community.
It is important to understand that these voices do not represent the majority of our community. They are a minority - loud, organized, and persistent - but not reflective of the broader population. Elevating and enabling their messaging distorts the reality of our community and risks legitimizing hostility as if it were consensus.
We must also speak honestly about the broader environment in which this resolution is being introduced. What we are experiencing today is not simply “rising antisemitism.” It is something more accelerated and more alarming; a normalization of rhetoric and behavior that once would have been widely condemned. The Jewish community is exhausted. There is a growing sense that this hostility has become desensitized, even justified, often excused because of events unfolding on the other side of the world.
Let me be unequivocal: when Jews are targeted, blamed, or excluded because of the actions of the Israeli government, that is antisemitism, period. This is not a matter of political disagreement; it is a matter of basic civil standards and moral clarity.
It feels as though conditions are not improving, but worsening. In such a climate, we need our civic institutions to lead with responsibility and integrity. We need a commitment to civility and a clear stance that targeting any group, especially in ways that echo historic patterns of discrimination, is unacceptable.
We are living in a moment that demands seriousness and balance. Jewish safety is increasingly being politicized, pulled into the agendas of extreme voices from across the political spectrum. This is deeply troubling and ultimately harmful to the fabric of our community.
If the goal is truly to foster understanding and unity, then the City Council should prioritize genuine community engagement rather than advancing a one-sided resolution. It should set a tone that reflects all constituents, not amplify the perspective of a vocal minority that has consistently demonstrated hostility toward another group.
The City must carefully consider the consequences of its actions. Endorsing a resolution of this nature sends a message, not just about international affairs, but about who feels seen, protected, and represented here at home.
A resolution put forward by individuals whose actions have consistently contributed to the defamation of the Jewish state, and to the creation of division and hostility within our community, has no place being endorsed as representative of this city.
The stakes are too high to ignore that impact.
~ Tamar Krigel
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“No room for small dreams”
- Shimon Peres
“Whatever has been achieved through pressure and violence is unstable, unreliable and incorrect . ~ Janusz Korczak