Over the past two months, the Village of Lombard has heard from numerous community residents in regards to the ongoing humanitarian crisis in Gaza. Provided below is a summary of the process that has been undertaken by the Village Board since that time, along with an explanation of our response and intended actions moving forward.
The Village of Lombard acknowledges that over the past six months, tens of thousands of innocent civilians have lost their lives as a result of this conflict and that many families are mourning the loss of loved ones. We want these families to know that we grieve with them and share in their pain and heartbreak. We also know that it is causing significant trauma and grief amongst members of the Lombard community, including residents of all faiths and backgrounds. As such, it is important for us to communicate that here locally, we affirmatively stand against the disrespect and ill treatment of any people. Specifically, this includes any acts of hatred against any person regardless of race, religion, or ethnic background.
In response to outreach from our citizens, we have participated in a series of discussions designed to educate and inform ourselves on how the crisis in Gaza is impacting our residents. In addition, we have listened at our recent board meetings as people explained the impact the war overseas is having on them as they go about their daily lives in our community. It is our belief that this has been a valuable process to better relate to our fellow Lombardians in an attempt to find common ground and understanding. It has allowed us to develop warm, open, and trusting relationships where other important topics were discussed including the safety and beauty of Lombard, its diversity, and opportunities for the community to grow stronger together.
As a local government, we recognize that the primary focus of the Village of Lombard is on serving our local citizens. While local governments have no direct influence upon American foreign policy, we understand that for many of our citizens, we are the most accessible form of government in terms of day-to-day services and interaction. Accordingly, after much discussion and consideration, the Village has decided not to place a formal ceasefire resolution on an agenda for consideration. However, we want our citizens to know that our decision does not mean that we are opposed to or disagree with the feelings and emotions that have been expressed or that their voices have gone unheard.
In order to communicate that message, the Village of Lombard has determined that a formal Statement in Response to the Ongoing Conflict and Humanitarian Crisis in Gaza (PDF) should be issued for the reasons stated above. Further, the Village commits to continued advocacy with Congressional Officials that represent the Lombard Community to assist in amplifying local voices on issues of national and global importance including the humanitarian crisis in Gaza. This advocacy may include written correspondence, arranged meetings, or hosting of discussions to allow direct interaction by citizens and Congressional officials.
In addition, through our discussions with members of the community, we also came to an agreement that there is always an opportunity for growth and improvement, especially as we evolve as a community over time.
Moving forward, the Village is committed to pursuing Additional Opportunities to Engage the Growing Diversity Within Our Community (PDF) in accordance with our Strategic Plan.
With the attached statement and a commitment to focus on new ways that we can educate and inform our community on the cultural diversity of Lombard, we trust and hope that this helps convey the message that our residents are being seen and heard as valued citizens of the Village.
