Council members Carla de Lira and Eric Fejeran will host a listening session at Neill Public Library on Monday.
The listening session will take place at 5:15 p.m. after a planned rally at the Compton Union Building that starts at 3 p.m.
The session regards the ceasefire resolution proposed by the Palouse Socialists of America that was rejected by City Council in June.
The event follows up on a listening session held in August by de Lira and Fejeran.
De Lira said she wants to make sure people feel they can give feedback regarding the resolution.
“One of the goals I hope to achieve is that all members feel welcome to give feedback on the resolution,” de Lira said. “We [like to have] a diverse perspective from all kinds of backgrounds.”
De Lira said she encourages community members who oppose the ceasefire resolution to attend as well. She thinks the Pullman community is strong enough to talk about something as decisive as the Israel-Hamas conflict.
“We’re resilient enough to have these conversations,” she said.
De Lira has faced backlash for her vocal support for Palestine. At a city council meeting Tuesday, a community member who identified himself as William voiced his dislike of De Lira’s support for Palestine.
“Numerous students on campuses that I know are scared to speak up because of the actions and harassments you guys are taking,” William said. “I want answers from you.”
De Lira said she is open to the public with who she associates with.
“I don’t hide my affiliations,” she said. “If I didn’t want my affiliations to be known, then I wouldn’t be taking pictures.”
Patrick Mahoney, WSU Ph.D. student studying political science, said while a resolution doesn’t change much on some level, the community should stand up for it.
“The last listening session there were a lot of people who were in from the community that were there and it was much more positive than the first city council session…It’s possible things could change,” Mahoney said. “But I just, for some of these people who are on city council, I don’t think they’re going to change their minds, I think their minds are set, and touching something like this, for them, is just like ‘it’s better for me not to take a stance.’”
This is set to be the final ceasefire resolution listening session held by de Lira and Fejeran.
