Calls to resign, cries of hate speech: Public comment halted during DCPS meeting after anti-Muslim remarks spark outrage

A Duval County School Board meeting turned chaotic Monday night after District 1 member Tony Ricardo reportedly reshared an anti-Islam post on Facebook — drawing a packed crowd, heated public comment, and calls for his resignation.The post, which has since been deleted from Ricardo’s personal Facebook page, described Islam as “not a religion” and called it a “political cult masquerading as a faith.” The original post appears to have been created by a group called Americans Against Islamification. A screenshot of Ricardo’s reshare continues to circulate online.Meeting halted for 10 minutesPublic comment came to a halt just before 8:15 p.m. when a man who identified himself as Jake Lang — and referred to himself as a crusader — made comments about the Muslim community that drew immediate backlash from people in the crowd. Attendees called the remarks hate speech and demanded he be removed.Board Chair Charlotte Joyce stopped the meeting and moved everyone outside. Joyce said earlier in th