JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — New legislation providing millions of dollars to increase security at houses of worship in Jacksonville where there are children, is now heading to the governor's desk for his signature.
Jewish day schools are specifically named in the legislation to receive most of the funds. People at two separate religious day schools for two different religions in Jacksonville say they plan to apply. Both places have hired security as members of both say the money would help greatly with paying for that and other security measures.
The legislation puts $45 million into a grant program to upgrade security for nonprofits, including houses of worship, schools, community centers and museums at risk of being targets of hate crimes. More than half of it, $25 million, is specifically for Jewish day schools.
Rachel Tal at the Torah Academy of Jacksonville says they plan to apply and Hafez Assali, president of the Islamic Center of Northeast Florida, says they do, too. Tal says people are constantly asking themselves now: 'Where am I safe?'
"When I go to pray, there's a big window where I stand in the women's section and the kids play outside there," Tal said. "My thoughts in addition to prayer have been: 'When a shooter comes, do I run out to the playground? What am I gonna do?'"
Assali says he's confident the state will provide the same help with security for the Islamic Center as for Jewish day schools.
"There is Islamophobia on the rise and there is fear on the rise," Assali said. "Many in the community are fearing for their children and fearing for their sons and daughters. We as the leaders in the community, it is our task, our job, to provide security."
Once the legislation officially becomes law and the grants are available to sign up for, they must be awarded to organizations by March 1, 2024.