Two out of three Central Illinois Townships rejected placing questions on the November ballot regarding the defunding of Apartheid Israel.
The Townships of Peoria & Capital (City of Springfield Township) voted against the following ballot question:
“Shall the United States Federal Government & subordinate divisions stop giving military funding to Israel which currently costs taxpayers 3.8 billion dollars a year, given Israel’s global recognition as an apartheid regime with a track record of human rights violations.”
Once a year, using an obscure law from the mid-19th century, fifteen township residents can propose an advisory ballot question to be voted on at the annual Township Meeting. Any township resident physically present at the meeting can vote to place an advisory question on public policy on the November ballot. A simple majority is needed to add the question.
The Peoria Township vote was 67-93. The Capital Township vote was 17-56.
Only the Township of Cunningham (City of Urbana Township) voted in favor of placing the question on the November ballot. The question passed 76-40. The City of Urbana passed a Ceasefire Resolution on March 19th, 2024.
This comes as the U.S.-backed Israeli War on Gaza against Hamas enters its six month since the deadly terrorist attacks on October 7th, 2023.
Almost all international human rights organizations view Israel as an apartheid state against non-Jews.
