The chaos unfolded during a protest over school board member Tony Ricardo, who has faced calls to resign after he apparently shared a Facebook post that called Islam an "invasive political cult." The post, which also claimed Islam is not a religion and that the Quran is instructions for jihad, drew widespread backlash from city and school district leaders, as well as religious organizations.

As community members gathered to protest Ricardo, a counter-protester identified as Edward "Jacob" Lang, a former Jan. 6 U.S. Capitol attack participant who was pardoned by President Donald Trump last year, approached the podium wearing what appeared to be a bulletproof vest. Lang made comments including "Muslim cockroaches have invaded the holes of our liberty," according to witnesses. The remarks triggered immediate outrage, with nearly a dozen people walking out in protest and others yelling "hate speech."

Several people were escorted out of the meeting as tensions escalated. School district leaders then cleared the chambers for a recess and allowed speakers back inside only individually. The public was later invited back in.

The meeting had been organized in part by a group of Muslim mothers who planned to attend in response to Ricardo's post. Many speakers condemned the language in the post and called for Ricardo's resignation.

"Using social media to disparage people including Muslim students in your district is a disgrace," one speaker said.

Another added: "You've just given permission to a bully in that school to say what he wants to say also and to bully these students, so I do not support you."

Ranna Abduljawad, a community organizer, said the post raises serious concerns about whether Muslim students can trust school leadership.

"When an elected school board member makes hateful statements about Islam, it raises serious questions about whether Muslim students can trust that leadership to represent their interests fairly sitting on the school board," Abduljawad said.

Others at the meeting defended Ricardo, citing First Amendment rights. "We all have our First Amendment right from the U.S. Constitution. Just because we sit on a school board doesn't mean we lost that right," one speaker said. Another stated: "Islam that calls itself a peaceful religion is actually a political ideology disguised as religion."

Charles Barr, chair of the Duval County Republican Party, has said he will not call on Ricardo to resign.

Ricardo has not publicly responded to requests for comment about the post. The controversy has drawn statements from fellow school board members, city leaders, and religious organizations, all rebuking the remarks and calling for accountability. Some groups, however, have stood behind Ricardo, arguing the post does not reflect his ability to govern fairly.

The disruption highlights growing tensions over hate speech and religious intolerance in Jacksonville schools, and raises questions about how school board members' social media activity affects their ability to represent all students.