Leaders of the Democratic party have joined forces to release a statement on Hamas’ attack on Israel. Florida Democratic Party Chair Nikki Fried (D), House Democratic Leader Fentrice Driskell (D), and Senate Democratic Leader Lauren Book (D) have reaffirmed that Florida stands in solidarity with Israel.
Chair Fried has been a vocal critic of Hamas, directing blame at Republicans for the ongoing search for House Speaker. This, she argues, is impeding on the United States properly responding to the attack on Israel.
In the statement, the Democratic leadership expressed that “as leaders within the Florida Democratic Party, we feel a responsibility to make our voices heard and position clear.”
“In the wake of Hamas’s horrific attacks on Israeli civilians, we unequivocally stand with Israel and their right to self-determination and self-defense – terrorists must not win. We also echo President Biden’s call for Israel to do everything in their power to avoid civilian casualties in Gaza,” they said.
“Here at home, we remember and renew the long-standing solidarity between Florida’s Black and Jewish communities during this time of rising antisemitism and Islamophobia in Florida,” the leadership commented, detailing that “as historically oppressed peoples, our communities must stand together to condemn and resist all forms of bigotry, hatred, and violence.”
“Our unity is our strength and we will not be divided.”
The comments come at a time when a 6-year-old Palestinian boy was stabbed in Chicago because of a hate crime. The murder, perpetrated by a 71-year-old man, resulted in the man being charged with first-degree murder, attempted murder, and aggravated battery, including two counts related to hate crimes.
This week, President Joe Biden (D) announced that “antisemitic hate crimes rose 25 percent from 2021 to 2022, and Antisemitism accounted for over half of all reported religion-based hate crimes,” adding that “Muslim Americans and African Americans continue to be overrepresented among victims.”
