Florida Attorney General Ashley Moody supports the Thin Blue Line Act, which was introduced by U.S. Senator Ted Cruz and U.S. Rep. Vern Buchanan.
The legislation is meant to provide enhanced penalties for convicted murderers who kill or attempt to kill a public safety officer. The law would classify these attempts on first responders’ lives as aggravating factors under the federal death penalty statute.
“Our law enforcement officers risk their lives to keep us safe,” Moody said. “They pursue armed fugitives and confront dangerous criminals. We need to send a clear message that we have their backs by passing the Thin Blue Line Act.”
Moody’s husband is a law enforcement officer. Last week, Police1 recognized Moody as one of the “Got Your Six” National Champions of Law Enforcement. This award recognizes those who have made exceptional contributions in backing the blue across the country.
* * *
Following the latest Hate Crimes in Florida report showing an alarming increase in hate crimes against Jewish Floridians, Moody will be hosting a law enforcement training to address antisemitism on college campuses.
The recently released report detailed an alarming 94 percent increase in hate crimes against Jewish Floridians from 2022 to 2023. The report also noted that the Jewish community has been increasingly targeted on college and university campuses since the Hamas terrorist attack on Israel in October 2023.
Moody’s office says the upcoming training is designed to help law enforcement and investigators combat hate crimes and antisemitism on college campuses.
“Florida is a law-and-order state, and we have taken extraordinary steps to protect the Jewish community since the October 7th attacks,” Moody said. “While law enforcement continues to vigilantly protect Jewish Floridians, we are seeing an increase in reported antisemitic hate crimes.
“That is why we are hosting a training to help combat antisemitism on college campuses.”
Following the October 7, 2023, terrorist attacks on Israel, antisemitic incidents more than tripled across the United States, and much of the antisemitic activity has taken place on college and university campuses.
Moody previously reached out to higher education officials in 2023 and 2024 advising them of Florida’s zero-tolerance policy against antisemitism and provided information on state statutes that outlaw antisemitic hate crimes and supporting terrorist organizations.
The upcoming training is done in partnership with the Combat Antisemitism Movement. The training program was developed from the George Washington University’s Program on Extremism and addresses the presence of Hamas in America and campus protests.
Specifically, it examines Hamas’ history in America and the network’s evolution, tactics, key players and activities, including the roles of Iranian and Hezbollah networks in propaganda, education and campus-related initiatives.
The training is tailored to educate individuals from federal and state agencies, detectives, police officers, sheriff’s deputies, university police and other public-safety officers.
The training will be held April 30 at Florida Atlantic University’s Boca Raton campus. Those interested in attending the training are asked to reach out to Gabe Groisman, Senior Advisor of the Combat Antisemitism Movement, at gg@groisman.llc for further information.