Florida Democrats Launch “Democrats of Faith” and Celebrate Faith Outreach Weekend Throughout the Sunshine State

This past weekend, the Florida Democratic Party (FDP) kicked off their statewide “Democrats of Faith” program with a Faith Outreach Weekend — directed at registering and engaging the faith community across the Sunshine state.

The “Democrats of Faith” program will partner Democrats of faith with worship services and faith alliances of all denominations across the state.

This past weekend’s faith day of action saw Democratic elected officials, community leaders and Democrats of faith speaking in dozens of worship services in every corner of the state — promoting voter registration ahead of the Florida Presidential Primary registration deadline of February 18, and speaking to core Democratic values and policies that are consistent with faith communities and pose a stark contrast to the personal actions and policies embraced by the Donald Trump and the Republican Party.

In the lead up to the general election, FDP’s “Democrats of Faith” program will partner with people of faith with more than 200 worship services and faith events across the state giving voice to Democrats who are people of faith to speak about their own personal experiences. They will speak about why Democratic core values and candidates align with their personal faith-based principles and encourage all members of the congregation to be registered to vote and turn out in November.

Terrie Rizzo, chair of the Florida Democratic Party, stated:

“President Trump’s behavior is not consistent with the teachings of any faith I know. His disgusting remarks toward women, his embrace of neo-Nazi’s on Twitter and protesters in Charlottesville, and his inhumane treatment of immigrant families seeking asylum are the opposite of the teachings of every spiritual leader in history. Democrats of Faith was born out of thousands of Christians, Jews, Muslims and other people of faith who are standing up and saying ‘enough is enough — Trump and the Republican Party’s cruel policies and behaviors do not represent us.”

Reverend James T. Golden from Mt. Zion in Port Tampa emphasized the importance of registering to vote:

“As a person of faith, I’m happy to urge my fellow clergy and laity to register to vote and raise our voices in the next election. We need to make sure from the White House down all elected officials embody the values we as people of faith hold dear.”

Reverend Kevin Chambliss from Covenant Missionary Baptist Church in Miami-Dade County also participated in the weekend of action:

“If there was ever a need for Men and Women of faith to stand up and speak Truth to Power, that time is now. During this time in our country, when the highest office in the land is used to breed divisiveness, bigotry, and racism, being silent is not an option. We must speak up and speak with a loud voice that this is wrong, and we will not be silenced. We proudly stand up as people of faith as well as members of the Democratic Party, and we will continue to be a voice for the voiceless. But we will not just speak, for faith without works is dead. We will also act by registering voters, educating voters, and mobilizing voters to the polls this election season. And by faith, hard work, and perseverance, come November, we will win.”

In addition to Democrats attending 30+ worship services across the state this past weekend, they also secured more than 2,000 signatures to a petition for people of faith who are committed to voting for the Democratic nominee.