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The Richmond Progressive Alliance, in partnership with Mayor Eduardo Martinez and the Bay Area Palestinian Youth Movement, has announced an effort to establish a Sister City relationship between Richmond and Sebastia, a town in the West Bank.
If approved, Sebastia would become Richmond’s fourth Sister City. The city currently maintains partnerships with Shimada, Japan; Zhoushan, China; and Regla, Cuba. Each of those agreements has centered on cultural exchange and local diplomacy.
Sebastia, located north of Nablus, is known for its archaeological sites spanning Roman, Byzantine, and Islamic eras, as well as its agriculture- and tourism-based economy. Supporters say the proposed relationship would foster cultural exchange and international partnership at a time when Palestinians face significant economic and political pressures.
“The partnership would reflect Richmond’s history of Sister City ties grounded in diplomacy, reconciliation, and solidarity,” the RPA said in a statement. For example:
- Shimada, Japan (1961): Established in the post–World War II era amid the aftermath of U.S. nuclear bombings, Pacific Theater devastation, and Japanese-American incarceration.
- Zhoushan, China (1993): Formed at the end of the Cold War, with shifting trade relations and efforts to counter negative U.S. rhetoric about China.
- Regla, Cuba (1999): Created during Cuba’s post-Soviet “Special Period,” while the U.S. maintained an economic embargo.
Advocates have launched a petition and are encouraging residents to comment at the Richmond City Council’s August 26 meeting, when the proposal is expected to be discussed.
Sign the Petition
Establish a Sister City Partnership Between Richmond, CA and Sebastia, Palestine
The United States does not formally recognize Palestine as a sovereign state, instead recognizing the Palestine Liberation Organization and the Palestinian Authority as representatives of the Palestinian people.
The RPA statement said, “For decades, the international community has refused to recognize the state of Palestine. But Palestine and its people live, and our community has tools at its disposal to stand in solidarity with Palestinians.”
Several U.S. cities maintain Sister City relationships explicitly using the name “Palestine”: Boulder, Colorado, with Nablus; Sacramento with Bethlehem; Muscatine, Iowa, with Ramallah; and Olympia and Madison, Wisconsin, with Rafah. Ramallah also has ties with Paterson, New Jersey.
The proposal aligns with the Richmond City Council’s recent international actions. In October 2023, the council passed a resolution affirming support for Palestinians in Gaza, a move that drew criticism from some Jewish community members while being championed by Mayor Martinez and Vice Mayor Gayle McLaughlin.
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If Richmond approves the proposal, it would join that list of U.S. cities that have used local partnerships to build connections with Palestinian communities.
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