NASHUA, NH – The Human Affairs Committee sent resolution R-24-075 – “Recognizing the United Nations’ Universal Declaration of Human Rights and urging the responsible and moral oversight of and accountability for military equipment used by international allies” – back to the Board of Aldermen with no recommendation on Oct. 21.
Alderwoman-At-Large Shoshonna Kelly had originally recommended indefinite postponement. Ward 4 Alderman Tom Lopez said he was against postponing the legislation, as a member of the committee had thoughts on the resolution and wasn’t at the meeting to speak to them.
Lopez introduced the resolution on Aug. 13 in response to many members of the community who had been asking the Board of Aldermen to pass a ceasefire resolution for the war in Palestine since February.
At the Aug. 13 Board of Aldermen meeting, Lopez explained the intention of the resolution, saying it “is trying to navigate exactly what Nashua’s role is and our roles as elected officials and hearing our constituents,” he said. “Even though there is a tragedy happening overseas that affects many many people, I think that we need to be able to be focused on the people here, our neighbors and our constituents, hearing their voices, maintaining respectful dialogue, and trying to see our way toward living and coexisting peacefully here in Nashua.”
Besides Lopez, no other aldermen have endorsed or supported the resolution. Many have said that they feel this matter isn’t relevant to Nashua and not the type of thing the board should be focusing on, a point Alderwoman Kelly made at the Human Affairs Committee meeting.
Over the past several months, members of the community in support of the resolution have said that Nashua is connected to the war.
“Innocent men, women and children in Gaza have been indiscriminately slaughtered by shells, dumb bombs and high-powered target munitions paid for by our tax dollars,” Nick Scalera said before the aldermen on March 26.
The resolution addresses this point, stating, “Whereas it is evident that Israel benefits from exceptional United States’ financial support and military equipment …” that could include the indirect contribution of $1,300,000 per year from Nashua residents through federal taxes to the Israeli military, as it later states.
Despite being sent to the Human Affairs Committee twice and already having been before the Board of Aldermen, no changes have been made to the resolution. During the Human Affairs Committee meeting, Lopez said that he has been open to amendments, but hasn’t received any concrete recommendations.
“It’s disappointing to me personally,” he said when asked how he felt about the lack of support and input from his fellow aldermen. “I think the resolution merited a more conscientious discussion, but I understand the reluctance, particularly where many have very openly declined to take on the issue. I think Nashua is a welcoming city in concept, but in the same way that local politics have becom more partisan, we will have to learn to navigate a more global perspective if we are going to represent an increasingly diverse community.”
During public comment, Scalera again spoke in favor of the resolution and three members of the public spoke out in criticism of the resolution, and of Alderman Lopez.
“Alderman Lopez, you wrote a divisive and anti-Semitic resolution,” Dana Darrow said.
“I don’t think you understand what you’re doing with this resolution and I’m begging you to lay off,” Jetta Darrow later said, noting instances of anti-Semitism her grandson had experienced. “What you’re doing with this resolution is promoting anti-Semitism in our city. It’s unnecessary and dangerous and you’re going to get somebody hurt.”
When asked his thoughts on these comments, Lopez said, “I think expressing anything other than a pro-Israel stance, whether within Israel or anywhere else, is accused of the same thing. The resolution is a matter of record, as is the United Nations declaration of human rights, the events referenced in it, and its stated intent. The sentiments expressed in public comment are exactly the behaviors and concerns that members of the public shared initially, that the resolution attempted to acknowledge.”