For far too long, Florida has been a state that not only leaves behind the Palestinian community, but has historically passed violent anti-Palestinian legislation on a local, state, and federal level. Today, not a single Florida member of Congress has yet co-sponsored Congresswoman Betty McCollum’s Bill: the Palestinian Children and Families Act, that ensures our tax dollars aren’t used by Israel to cage Palestinian children, demolish Palestinian homes, and steal Palestinian land. Quite the contrary, all Florida congressional leaders helped make up 75% of the members of Congress that signed Rep. Ted Deutch’s letter, a commitment to sustain Israel’s ethnic cleansing and inhumane brutality against the Palestinian people, unequivocally. Rep. Deutch’s letter that opposes any conditioning of US aid to Israel -- was in reaction to Rep. McCollum’s historic bill that could finally center Palestinian human rights.

U.S. Representatives from Florida:  Val Demings,  Stephanie Murphy &  Darren Soto support the unconditional U.S. aid of 3.8 billion taxpayer dollars to Israel and their state sanctioned violence. They continue to discard the rights of the Palestinian people and have yet to condemn Israel’s atrocities against Palestinians in just the last few weeks specifically in Sheikh Jarrah, Jerusalem, and Gaza.

Within East occupied Jerusalem, 21 Palestinian families in the Sheikh Jarrah and Silwan neighborhoods are being forcefully displaced from their homes by Jewish settlers who are protected by the Israeli government. This comes from a long history of Zionist occupation and the ethnic cleansing of Palestinians. Palestinians who are protesting against dispossession and displacement face extreme violence by Israeli settlers and forces. Masjid Al-Aqsa is the third holiest site for Muslims, a mosque with a number of virtues and a wealth of history. In the holiest month of the year, Ramadan, Israeli forces violently entered Masjid Al-Aqsa as defenseless worshippers prayed in peace. They stormed a sacred space with U.S. funded weapons and bombs, injuring over 200 Palestinians. Palestinians deserve basic human rights, dignity and the right to live and worship in freedom.  

Florida State Legislators who ran on progressive platforms like Anna Eskamani, Carlos Guillermo Smith, Geraldine Thompson, Kamia Brown, Randolph Bracy, Victor Torres, and Linda Stewart have yet to condemn Israel’s violence and apartheid against the Palestinian people. Two years ago, the state legislature boldly and unanimously passed legislation (HB 741) that could criminalize students who are vocal on Palestinian human rights. The legislation allows the government to stifle and criminalize young activists and students on college campuses who utilize their civil rights to criticize Israel. Students are currently facing the consequences. Ahmed Daraldik was a senate president until he was forced to step down due to his Palestinian advocacy. In the midst of ongoing violence against Palestinians, students cannot express their advocacy without the risk of being criminalized.

It’s time to draw a line in the sand, Florida leaders are either with justice and freedom for all or they are not.

Governments and people across the world have denounced Israel for their actions. Residents across this nation clearly see the violence, the apartheid state, and settler colonial regime that Palestinians are experiencing. We call on Florida representatives to condemn the violence that Israeli forces are inflicting on peaceful Palestinians. We cannot stand by as Palestinians are expelled from their homes and subjected to assault and violation We must stand in solidarity with the Palestinian people against the persecution and occupation they face under Israeli apartheid.

We, the co-signatories, call on our U.S. Representatives from Florida: Val Demings,  Stephanie Murphy and Congressman Darren Soto to:

1. Condemn Israel’s state sanctioned violence against the Palestinian people.

2. Join their Congressional peers in calling on Secretary of State Tony Blinken to immediately intervene to stop Israel’s illegal expulsion of Palestinians from their homes in Sheikh Jarrah and Silwan.

3. End U.S. military aid to Israel. And co-sponsor Congresswoman Betty McCollum’s Bill: the Palestinian Children and Families Act

4. Protect Floridians’ right to freedom of speech and the right to boycott/BDS.

We, the co-signatories, call on our Florida State Legislators:  Anna Eskamani, Carlos Guillermo Smith, Geraldine Thompson, Kamia Brown, Randolph Bracy, Victor Torres, and Linda Stewart to:

1. Condemn Israel’s state sanctioned violence, forced expulsions, and home demolitions of the Palestinian people and U.S. backed military aid to Israel.

2. Recognize and acknowledge the harm of (HB 741) by endorsing Palestine Legal’s Complaint in support of Ahmad Daraldik. Commit to protect Floridians’ right to freedom of speech and the right to boycott/BDS.

A growing number of members of Congress outside of Florida are speaking out against Israel's use of US funds towards oppressing Palestinians. And we expect Florida leadership to do the same -- stand for justice, freedom and liberation for all people. Israel must be held accountable for ongoing violence and oppression against the Palestinian people. Without consequences, Israel will continue to steal Palestinian land and water and harm Palestinian children and families.

Florida Palestine Network

The Muslim Women’s Organization

Unbought Power

Poder LatinX

Dream Defenders

Central Florida Climate Action

Florida Student Power Network

Florida Immigrant Coalition

March For Our Lives

Central Florida Jobs With Justice

NAACP OC

Our Revolution Florida

FL International Solidarity Collective

Colombian Progressives

Orlando DSA

Young Democrats of Orange County, President Alex Weeden

Florida Young Democrats