By flip-flopping on Doral’s call for peace in Middle East, mayor bowed to hate | Opinion
The City of Doral made a historic decision on May 8 by unanimously voting in favor of a peace resolution calling for a permanent end to all hostilities in Israel and Gaza. This resolution, the first of its kind from a city in South Florida, emerged as a beacon of hope in an era tainted by hate, distrust and the rise of antisemitism and Islamophobia.
It acknowledged the devastating loss of innocent lives on both sides and called for increased humanitarian aid and an end to hostilities. The resolution emphasized the city of Doral’s commitment to promoting peace, acceptance and unity. Knowing that these are sensitive topics, particularly for some residents within our local religious communities, advice from figures within the various religious communities was sought. The resolution was carefully crafted with the help of a representative of the Muslim community, a Doral rabbi representing the Jewish community and a pastor from the mayor’s church, representing the Christian community.
The resolution passed and encompassed the sentiments of these equally represented communities. By demanding an end to the conflict, the resolution showcased Doral as a steadfast foundation for promoting peace, acceptance and unity.
However, the reactions thus far have been disheartening, characterized by vitriol, further division and, most concerning, exclusion and hate.
Hateful backlash
Gov. Ron DeSantis, for instance, has gone so far as to deny the existence of Palestine when questioned about this resolution. State Rep. Alex Rizo boldly proclaimed that Republicans would never call for an end to the war, while state Rep. Randy Fine engaged in Islamophobic rhetoric on X, formerly known as Twitter, and accused the resolution of “endorsing Muslim terror.”
Sadly, the reactions thus far do not come as a surprise. Republicans have a track record of politicizing issues for their own political gain, at times drumming up hate against Florida’s racial, ethnic and religious minorities, and they jumped at the chance here. They have shamelessly labeled a resolution aimed at promoting peace, dialogue and acceptance as a “pro terror” resolution. The mental gymnastics required to achieve such a distorted perspective are truly astounding.
A city for all
In a diverse society, which is particularly pronounced in South Florida, it is crucial for leaders to consider the emotions and values of all constituents. Every individual deserves to be heard, understood and represented, regardless of their background or beliefs.
By standing firm and sticking with the original resolution that Doral Mayor Christi Fraga herself sponsored, which took into account the varying perspectives and concerns of all and was unanimously approved by the council, the mayor could have fostered a sense of unity and understanding among her constituents. She could have shown that it is possible to bridge divides, find common ground and remain steadfast in the face of hate-based attacks, even in the most contentious of issues.
Mayor backtracks
However, by introducing a new resolution in response to this hate-based backlash, the mayor is choosing to value and humanize only one group of constituents, to the detriment of others. For city council members who back these efforts, they should know that they are also bowing to attacks that directly harm their constituents.
True leadership requires the courage to listen to diverse perspectives, to acknowledge the complexities of the issues at hand, and to find common solutions that uphold the values of justice and equality, where all members of the community, regardless of race, ethnicity and religious background are treated with fairness and dignity.
Zohra Khorashi is an attorney, mother and social media content creator/activist who lives in Doral. She brought the resolution to the city for consideration.
