Walk through parts of New York City today, and you’ll see something that should stop every American in their tracks. Jewish Americans being harassed in broad daylight. Protesters crossing the line from political speech into outright intimidation and assaults on Jews. And yes, flags associated with Hezbollah and ISIS, both U.S.-designated terrorist organizations, being waved on American streets as if this were normal.
It is not normal. It is not acceptable. And in Florida, it would not be tolerated.
While too many cities have allowed chaos, moral confusion, and political cowardice to define their response, Florida has drawn a bright, unmistakable line. Under Governor Ron DeSantis and many Florida political and community leaders, the state has made clear that public safety is paramount and that support for terrorism, whether explicit or disguised as protest, will be met with consequences.
This is not about suppressing free speech. It is about enforcing the law and protecting citizens. There is a difference between peaceful protest and glorifying organizations like Hezbollah or ISIS that have the blood of innocent people on their hands, including Jews.
Florida understands that distinction. Other states pretend not to, and it’s pathetic.
That clarity has been reinforced through policy. Florida’s recent efforts to block the influence of foreign legal doctrines through anti-Sharia legislation are rooted in a simple principle: American law governs in America. Period. No parallel systems. No carve-outs that erode constitutional protections. At a time when leaders elsewhere are afraid to even acknowledge the problem, Florida is acting decisively.
And it’s not just coming from the governor’s office.
Leaders like now Congressman Randy Fine have been on the front lines of this fight for years. As a member of the Florida House, Fine championed some of the strongest pro-Israel and anti-antisemitism legislation in the country. He pushed measures to combat the BDS movement, ensuring that taxpayer dollars would not be used to support those who seek to economically isolate Israel. He backed legislation strengthening penalties for antisemitic acts and worked to ensure that Florida’s education system accurately teaches the dangers of hatred toward Jews.
Recommended
Fine didn’t wait for antisemitism to explode into the headlines. He acted early, forcefully, and unapologetically. That is what serious leadership looks like.
Contrast that with what we see elsewhere. In cities like New York, Los Angeles, and Chicago, leaders issue carefully worded statements while Jewish residents are told, implicitly or explicitly, to accept a lower standard of safety. Law enforcement is restrained. University administrators hide behind the process while Jewish students face harassment. The message, whether intended or not, is that this is tolerable.
Florida rejects that entirely because common sense and moral compasses rule our society down here.
It is no coincidence that Florida has become a destination for Jewish Americans seeking not just sunshine, but security. Families and businesses are relocating because they see a state that takes their safety seriously. People vote with their feet, and right now, they are choosing Florida.
And the future of that leadership looks just as strong.
My friend Byron Donalds, widely viewed as a frontrunner for governor, has been unwavering in his support for the Jewish community and the State of Israel. He brings moral clarity to an issue where too many equivocate. He understands that standing with Israel is not just foreign policy. It is a statement about values, about civilization, and about drawing a firm line between democracy and terror.
Donalds has consistently spoken out against antisemitism and in defense of Jewish Americans when it mattered most. Not after the fact. Not when it was easy. When it counted.
That is the model. Strong leadership. Clear laws. Zero tolerance for terror. Unapologetic support for the Jewish community. That is what has made Florida different.
“Make America Florida” is not just a slogan. It is a roadmap for the rest of our country.
It means restoring law and order in our cities. It means refusing to tolerate the glorification of terrorist organizations on American soil. It means ensuring that Jewish Americans can walk their streets without fear. And it means electing leaders who are willing to act, not just talk.
Because the alternative is already here.
A country where Hezbollah and ISIS flags fly in major cities is a country that has lost its way. A country where Jews are harassed, intimidated, and even assaulted, and told to accept it as part of the “new normal,” is a country that has forgotten who it is.
We do not have to accept that, and we will not!
We can choose strength. We can choose clarity. We can choose to stand with our Jewish communities and against those who threaten them.
We can choose to Make America Florida. Sadly, I think the best days of cities like NYC are in the dustbins, and they have lost their city for good.
Bryan E. Leib is the CEO of Henry Public Relations, Co-Founder of Red Presswire, a Newsmax TV Contributor, and the Foreign Policy Advisor to a Member of U.S. Congress. He can be reached at bleib@henrypr.com.
Editor's Note: Do you enjoy Townhall's conservative reporting that takes on the radical Left and woke media? Support our work so that we can continue to bring you the truth.
Join Townhall VIP and use promo code FIGHT to receive 60% off your membership.
Join the conversation as a VIP Member