Community leaders sign Central Florida Pledge to stand against hate
Leaders across Central Florida representing city and county governments, law enforcement agencies, business, religious groups and college campuses gathered Thursday in downtown Orlando to sign the Central Florida Pledge, a document denouncing Islamophobia, antisemitism and other forms of hate.
In the months after the Oct. 7 attack on Israel and the brutal war that followed in the Gaza Strip, prominent community figures set out to ease some of the tension that bubbled across the region, thousands of miles away from the conflict.
Longtime businessman and philanthropist Alan Ginsberg had the idea to create a pledge that members of the community could sign to promise that they would not only refuse to participate in the hatred of others but would also intervene when they witnessed vulnerable people being targeted by those espousing hate.
“I have been a witness to many, many evils,” Ginsburg said at a launch ceremony for the pledge held at the Dr. Phillips Center for Performing Arts Thursday morning. “I have been witness to a lot of fear in our community. I have been a witness to antisemitism, Islamophobia, all kinds of hatreds. … Hopefully, in our Central Florida community, we can do something about that.”
Those who sign the four-paragraph pledge have promised to treat “all people, especially those with whom I disagree, with kindness and respect.” They promised to “refrain from inflammatory words and actions, and actively support those being attacked,” report hateful and violent threats and seek education about hate and discrimination while influencing others to do the same.
“You won’t find any hidden agendas that have to do with politics or with an organization seeking influence,” said Joel Hunter, longtime pastor of Northland Church and now pastor of community benefit at Action Church. “We are truly a network of neighbors who just want to be better neighbors.”
Hunter said he knows of no similar effort elsewhere in the nation.
The promoters of the pledge have gathered signatures from many prominent Central Florida figures including Orange County Sheriff John Mina, Seminole County Sheriff Dennis Lemma, State Rep. Anna Eskamani and Talli Dippold, CEO of the Holocaust Memorial Resource and Education Center. Also included were students from several area colleges, other law enforcement leaders and elected officials, clergy members and business and nonprofit leaders.
The pledge is now open for any member of the public to sign.
Imam Muhammad Musri, president of the Islamic Society of Central Florida, was among those who signed on to the pledge. He said he felt compelled to add his name to follow the example of the prophet Muhammad who also signed a pledge to stand with people facing discrimination in a moment known as Hilf al-Fudul, which translates to the alliance of righteousness or virtue.
“To me this is an alliance of virtue and righteousness,” Musri said of the Central Florida pledge. “We as a community have to stand with any individual or group that is vulnerable or is being harassed, attacked or discriminated against.”
Both Orlando Mayor Buddy Dyer and Orange County Mayor Jerry Demings signed the pledge and called on Central Florida residents to speak up when they see discrimination or other harmful forms of hate unfolding.
“For me today this is both a sad day and a happy day,” Demings said. “It’s a sad day because we all have been forced to recall the sins of the past but it’s a happy day because we’re all here today as Central Floridians pledging to do better, to treat one another better than we’ve every treated one another before.”
Hannah al Jallad, who leads the Palestinian Student Association at University of Central Florida, also signed the pledge. She has led several on-campus protests since war broke out in an effort bring awareness to the plight of Palestinian people in Gaza whose death toll has reached the tens of thousands. She said she supports the pledge but hopes that this is the beginning of action to be taken by those who signed and that with more effort will be made to combat hate and prejudice from here.
“At the end of the day, we are all human beings whether we are Palestinian, whether we are Jewish, whether Muslim, Christian,” al Jallad said. “I hope it actually leads to action. That’s my number one thing. It’s nice to see everyone come together but it’s also the first step in many steps to be taken. I think it’s the least we can do as a community and I expect more from the community.”
To read and sign the pledge, visit www.centralfloridapledge.com.
