Port Moody City Council Reverses Decision on Supporting Peace in Palestine: Stays in it's Own Lane

In May, after listening to presentations made by Freedom Palestine Tri-Cities, Port Moody City Council decided to take an official position and release a statement supporting peace in Palestine.

Shortly thereafter members of Port Moody council who did not support this action because they did not believe such a statement fell within the purview of the city council were attacked online. Despite the fact that the motion to support their effort had passed, two councilors were called supporters of genocide and received threats on the Free Palestine Tri-Cities website.

In response to this action Port Moody held an emergency council meeting during which some councillors decided to change their decision resulting in a final decision not to take an official position or release a statement on the matter.

The following video is coverage of the council meeting. Port Moody residents and members of Free Palestine Tri-Cities were given an opportunity to comment on the matter and council dealt with related follow up motions. All council matters not pertaining to the issue at hand have been edited out of our coverage of the meeting.

Ultimately the issue considered was whether it was the job of city council to take a position on such matters. Some felt that taking a position on such a divisive issue only helped divide the community rather than building bridges. Others felt that as leaders of the community it is incumbent upon council to take a position on the matter and make their voices heard. Certainly other cities such as Vancouver and Richmond have come out with statements in support of peace.