An open letter to Andy Beshear: Your silence on Gaza endorses persecution of innocents | Opinion

November 2, 2023

Dear Governor Andy Beshear,

This letter is on behalf of your Kentuckian constituents regarding the ongoing crisis in Gaza, and your response regarding the violence in the region. As Kentuckians, we are proud to call this state our home. That said, we deeply mourn the innocent Palestinian and Israeli lives lost and urgently call for an immediate ceasefire within Gaza.

Three weeks ago, you ordered flags to be flown at half-staff “to both grieve with Israel and to let them know we stand with them.” You proceeded stating, “This terrorist attack and how many people it has taken — thousands of Israeli and other families impacted. We hurt for and we pray for each and every one of those families.”

By acknowledging the violence committed in Israel and not addressing the atrocities committed by the Israeli occupation forces in Gaza, you negligently imply the ethnic cleansing and suffering of the Palestinians under Israeli occupation is nonexistent. Israel has breached international law, not just every day since the events on Oct. 7, but virtually every single day for decades. Israel occupies Palestinian land, blockades Palestinian territory, builds and expands illegal settlements, enforces an apartheid system that restricts the movement of Palestinians and denies their fundamental rights, and systematically attacks and kills Palestinian civilians.

This suffering is not an ocean away; it is taking place right here in Kentucky. The same Kentuckians that donated to- and supported your election have been in deep mourning, considering that many Kentucky residents have tragically lost close family members and relatives in Gaza and the West Bank. We have witnessed tragic events unfold as innocent Palestinian men, women, and children have been massacred over the past two weeks. We have watched parents pull their dismembered children out of rubble, neighborhoods, churches, mosques, schools, and hospitals obliterated, and entire families eradicated in the blink of an eye. To date, the people of Gaza are cut off from water, food, electricity, and medical supplies. More than 11,000 Palestinians have been killed, including 4,000 children. This is a humanitarian crisis.

To our disappointment, your silence has endorsed the persecution of innocent people on Kentucky soil and abroad. These statements carry consequences by promoting violence toward Palestinian — Muslims, Christians, and Jews, alike. Notably, your voter demographic consists largely of individuals aged 18 to 34 who yearn for a ceasefire and whose beliefs are antithetical to the apartheid system in Gaza and similar conditions in the West Bank. As a leader, your words have depth and this is not representative of what our Commonwealth stands for. We will not sit by and allow this to happen.

During the Russia-Ukraine war, you made a statement saying, “We are not each other’s enemies. It’s time for America to be united–every single one of us–against this external threat.” We implore you to publicly condemn the oppression and war crimes taking place against the Palestinians, perpetuated by the state of Israel. We ask that you express solidarity with both the Palestinians in Gaza and within your state, to be a united Kentucky. Your vocal support can make a significant difference in raising awareness and advocating for justice.

This letter was signed by the following groups: African People’s Socialist Party, Ahmad Law Office, PLLC, Bellarmine Muslim Student Association, Bowling Green Muslim Student Association, Communist Party of Kentucky, Communist Party USA of Louisville, Islamic Center of East Kentucky, Islamic Center of Lexington - Armstrong Mosque, Islamic Center of Somerset, Islamic Society of Central Kentucky, Kentucky Tenants, Latinx Student Union, Lexington Muslim Student Associations, Louisville Muslim Student Association, Louisvillle Students for Justice in Palestine, Louisville Young Communist League, Masjid Bilal Ibn Rabah of Lexington, Party for Socialism and Liberation of Lexington, Share Center Lexington, Somali Student Association at the University of Louisville, South Side Musalla of Lexington, Starbucks Workers Union Kentuckiana, Sunrise Movement of Bowling Green, Kentucky United Campus Workers, Young Communist League at the University of Kentucky, Young Muslims Brothers of Lexington, Young Muslim Sisters of Lexington and Winchester Family Practice.