Surrey city council chambers was cleared Monday night following a disruption by angry protesters calling for a ceasefire in the Israel-Hamas war.

B次元官网网址淚 was shocked, to be honest, that they were so angry,B次元官网网址� Locke said in the aftermath. B次元官网网址淪ome of the stuff they were yelling at us, calling us murderersB次元官网网址�

B次元官网网址淭hey wanted the call for a ceasefire,B次元官网网址� Locke said, B次元官网网址渁nd I called for peace, because peace to me is much larger than a ceasefire. I was personally taken aback that they got so cross.B次元官网网址�

At the outset of the meeting, Locke said the City of Surrey condemns all acts of racism, including anti-semitism, anti-Palestinian racism and Islamophobia. B次元官网网址淭he City of Surrey recognizes the humanitarian crisis unfolding around the world, including in Israel and in Gaza, and call for peace in order to protect all human lives, especially those of children,B次元官网网址� she told the chamber.

The outburst happened after she made her statement.

B次元官网网址淚 donB次元官网网址檛 understand what they didnB次元官网网址檛 like,B次元官网网址� Locke told the Now-Leader. Clearing the council chambers, she said, B次元官网网址渨as truly something I never thought I was going to have to do. You know, we have the business of the city to run, this is the peopleB次元官网网址檚 B次元官网网址� all peopleB次元官网网址檚 B次元官网网址� place to be and it made it uncomfortable for a lot of people. A lot of people that were there for business left because it was upsetting to them.B次元官网网址�

Only people speaking to items on the public hearing agenda were allowed in chambers, after council returned from a brief recess. In the lobby outside chambers, a woman shouting about genocide yelled, B次元官网网址淐hildren, every ten minutes a child dies. You live with that, you live with that mayor, you live with that.B次元官网网址�

One man addressed council during the public hearing.

B次元官网网址淚t wasnB次元官网网址檛 until I stood up for Palestine where I have been threatened at my workplace, where individuals from around the world have been emailing the Surrey Teachers Association asking me to get fired,B次元官网网址� he told council. B次元官网网址淚B次元官网网址檓 not here on behalf of myself, I am here on behalf of the many teachers that I have been talking to who feel constricted in their workplaces.

B次元官网网址淎s an individual who has been fighting for human rights, I only ask for simple words, simple words such as a ceasefire that I know most of you believe in,B次元官网网址� he said.

Later in the meeting, Councillors Harry Bains and Linda Annis lauded LockeB次元官网网址檚 comments.

B次元官网网址淚 want to begin by thanking you for your statement earlier where you condemned all acts of racism in our community,B次元官网网址� Bains. B次元官网网址淚 heard the individuals who spoke here today and I understand their emotions. Children are dying, and I canB次元官网网址檛 imagine a world where that would be okay. I recognize the humanitarian crisis unfolding in Gaza and the West Bank and I call for an immediate cease fire by all sides in order to protect all human life, including all of those children.B次元官网网址�

Annis echoed that. B次元官网网址淚 just wanted to thank you for your opening comments this evening around the horrific war that is taking place in the Middle East, and also to thank Councillor Bains as well, it was very difficult, and I think we all agree that a ceasefire is needed both for Israel and the folks living in the Gaza, itB次元官网网址檚 horrific whatB次元官网网址檚 happening there and I just want to thank both of you for speaking up.B次元官网网址�

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