San Jose blocks seating at council meeting as hundreds show up to demand Gaza ceasefire

BRIGHT BLUE TARPS covered every other row in the San Jose City Council chambers on Tuesday, reducing seating by half, when the city learned through social media that residents were rallying for a ceasefire resolution over the Israel-Hamas war.

More than 100 residents came to City Hall to speak during public comment wanting councilmembers to introduce a resolution calling for peace. Instead, security limited attendees from entering the chambers and relegated residents to a separate room to watch the meeting through a livestream. The move left many viewing the actions as racist and hindering residents’ ability to participate in local government.