CHARLOTTESVILLE, VA (CVILLE RIGHT NOW) – Charlottesville City Council voted for a resolution calling for a ceasefire in Israel and Palestine during its April 1, 2024, regular meeting.

The measure, which was a last-minute addition to Council’s March 18, 2024, meeting, lost by a 3-2 vote. During Monday’s meeting it passed by a 3-1 with Councilman Lloyd Snook abstaining.

The swing vote came from Councilor Bryan Pinkston, who voting on an international issue goes against his believe in the modesty of local government. After hearing from constituents, however, he changed his mind.

“I believe it is important to change your mind and to revisit a decision if upon new information or upon further reflection, you’ve come to believe you made a mistake,” he said. “This conflict on innocent people is morally outrageous.”

Councilor Lloyd Snook also believes in the modesty of local government and used it to justify a “no” vote the first time. He chose to abstain in the second vote, citing communication with Virginia’s U.S. Senators, Mark Warner and Tim Kaine.

“I personally wrote to both Senators, on February 15, the next day, 2024, endorsing the position that they took in the letter,” he said. “I will abstain rather than vote ‘no’ because I would not want a ‘no’ vote to be misunderstood as a ‘no’ vote on the substance.”

The vote was met with a round of applause from a packed house.