Daly City proclaims Arab American Heritage Month as residents urge council to agendize ceasefire resolution

Daly City’s council proclaimed April 2024 as Arab American Heritage Month and invited community representatives to accept the recognition, a measure intended to honor cultural contributions and promote inclusion.

Hibba, who identified herself as a Palestinian Muslim and lifelong Daly City resident, accepted the proclamation and used her remarks to describe the impact of the conflict in Gaza. In a lengthy address she characterized recent events as genocidal and recounted historical and contemporary casualty figures; she closed by reciting a poem and calling for what she described as liberation and the right of return. "We are more than just a diversity quota that needs to be fulfilled," she said during her remarks.

During the public‑comment period that followed, numerous residents urged the council to formally agendize and adopt a symbolic resolution calling for an immediate ceasefire and expanded humanitarian aid to Gaza. Commenters included Amanda, Ari, Lena and others who repeatedly framed the situation in Gaza as an urgent humanitarian crisis and appealed to the council for a solidarity statement. "Please agendize and ultimately pass the ceasefire resolution for an immediate surplus of human aid into Gaza," Amanda told the council. Several speakers cited casualty figures and personal trauma; those figures and characterizations are the speakers’ assertions and were presented as part of public testimony.

Greg Bernard, director of programs at Rebuilding Together Peninsula, spoke separately during public comment to request increased city funding to keep pace with rising contractor costs for home repairs for low‑income residents; he described local median incomes for those served and urged the city to match funding levels used by neighboring jurisdictions.

Council members acknowledged the community’s testimony. Mayor Jocelyn C. Manalo thanked Hibba and the community for participating; Vice Mayor said he stood in solidarity and described the remarks as "speaking truth to power." Councilmembers noted a subcommittee is reviewing ceasefire resolutions and that a draft resolution is being prepared for possible future agenda consideration.

No formal ceasefire resolution was before the council during this meeting; public commenters requested that the council formally agendize such a resolution for a future meeting.