Jacksonville city officials and community leaders are publicly demanding the resignation of School Board member Tony Ricardo after he posted an image on social media that described Islam as a “political cult masquerading as a faith.” The graphic, which also featured the logo of the far‑right group “Americans Against Islamification,” was shared on Ricardo’s Facebook page on Sunday.
Local officials condemn the post
Jacksonville City Council member Jimmy Peluso issued a statement Tuesday, saying a simple apology cannot undo the harm caused. “School board members are entrusted to serve every child in our district, including our Muslim students,” Peluso said. “When an elected school official shares content that portrays a whole faith as illegitimate, families have good reason to question whether their children will be treated fairly.”
Mayor Donna Deegan echoed those concerns, noting Jacksonville’s historic Arab‑American community. “Muslim students, like all other students, should feel welcome, and parents deserve to know their children are safe. Religious prejudice does not belong anywhere in our city,” Deegan said.
Group ties and broader backlash
The image originated from “Americans Against Islamification,” a group linked to provocateur Jayden Scott and pardoned January 6 participant Jake Lang, who briefly ran against Ashley Moody in the recent Florida Republican Senate primary. Members of the group refer to themselves as “crusaders” and have a history of anti‑Muslim rhetoric, including a caption that read, “We Need Total REMIGRATION today.”
The Islamic Center of Northeast Florida and the interfaith coalition OneJax both released statements condemning Ricardo’s post as deeply offensive and Islamophobic. Rev. Beverly Dempsey, OneJax CEO, warned, “What message does this send to Muslim students attending schools under the authority of this board member? While officials retain their constitutional right to free expression, that right does not exempt them from public scrutiny, ethical accountability, or the responsibility to maintain public trust.”
Ricardo’s prior social‑media controversies
This is not Ricardo’s first contentious online activity. Prior to his 2024 election, his Facebook profile featured numerous posts targeting the LGBTQ community. After winning, he shared false information about government weather‑control capabilities during hurricane season. Although he later hid many of those posts, the recent anti‑Islam graphic was visible only to his Facebook friends before a screenshot spread widely.
Duval Schools issued a statement clarifying that individual board members’ views do not represent the collective position of the School Board or Duval County Public Schools. Council member Peluso added that Ricardo “has a history of disparaging the very communities he was elected to represent,” emphasizing that leadership must foster a safe, supportive learning environment for all students, faculty, and staff.
Community demographics
According to the Association of Religion Data Archives, less than 1% of Duval County residents identified as Muslim in 2020—higher than the state average of about 0.6%. The county’s largest religious group is Evangelical Protestants at roughly 37%, followed by Catholics at 13.5%.
As the controversy unfolds, Jacksonville residents and parents are watching closely to see whether the board will take formal action against Ricardo, and how the district will reaffirm its commitment to religious tolerance and the constitutional rights of all students.
Original reporting: Jacksonville Today — read the source article.
