Politics
Duval School Board Member Tony Ricardo Faces Public Backlash Over Viral Islam Post as GOP Chair Defends Him
Duval County School Board member Tony Ricardo is set to face community members Monday night after sharing a Facebook post calling Islam an 'invasive political cult.' While Muslim mothers demand accountability, Duval GOP Chair Charles Barr is standing by Ricardo and questioning the criticism.
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. â Duval County School Board member Tony Ricardo is expected to confront community members at Monday night's board meeting, days after a Facebook post he appeared to share that called Islam an "invasive political cult" went viral and sparked calls for his resignation.
The post, which Ricardo seemed to share on his personal account, triggered widespread backlash. City leaders, fellow school board members, and religious organizations have since weighed in, with many condemning the message as Islamophobic and unfit for an elected official overseeing public schools.
"When we normalize hatred toward one religious group, we weaken the protection and dignity of every community group," said Ranna Abduljawad, a community organizer, in a statement ahead of the meeting.
Abduljawad and a group of Muslim mothers plan to attend Monday's meeting with signs and speak during public comment to demand accountability. They argue that Ricardo's post has undermined trust in his ability to govern fairly.
"We recognize and respect the First Amendment," Abduljawad said. "But freedom of speech does not shield an elected official from public criticism and accountability."
However, the Duval County Republican Party is offering a different view. Charles Barr, chair of the Duval GOP, said he will not ask Ricardo to step aside and suggested that Muslim parents should reconsider their criticisms.
"I've known Tony for a long time. It doesn't matter to him what the students' religion is. He's there for the students to help them learn education. That's it," Barr said.
"I don't think that the parents, even the Muslim parents who are going tonight... I don't think they're going to see anything detrimental to their kids in the way Tony rules," Barr added.
The controversy comes as the school board prepares to meet Monday night, where public comment is expected to be heated. Those wishing to speak must sign up ahead of time.
The incident has drawn attention to the broader debate over hate speech and religious tolerance in Jacksonville, with community members calling for elected officials to be held to a higher standard. The school board has not yet indicated whether any formal action will be taken regarding Ricardo's post.
Ricardo has not publicly commented on the backlash beyond the original post. The meeting is scheduled to begin Monday evening at the Duval County School Board headquarters.