Denouncing Israel bonds, James Fishback is thrown out of Miami-Dade chambers

Miami-Dade County admin September 1, 2026 0 Comments

Denouncing Israel bonds, James Fishback is thrown out of Miami-Dade chambers

James Fishback, the hard-right former candidate for Florida governor, was hustled out of the Miami-Dade County Commission chambers Tuesday while condemning the county’s investment in Israeli bonds.

“Do you serve the people of South Miami or of Jerusalem?” Fishback asked commissioners after they approved changing the county’s investment rules to allow more purchasing of bonds issued by Israel. “This money should be invested here in this community.”

In his comments, Fishback said he knew there was a risk he’d be escorted out of the chambers for violating instructions by Chair Anthony Rodriguez not to address the legislation on Israel bonds.

That’s because, under the commission’s procedural rules, the public is not allowed to speak on most agenda items at a full commission meeting if a commission committee has already held a hearing on the legislation. That was the case with the Israel bond changes, which was passed by the commission’s Intergovernmental and Economic Impact Committee in July. On Tuesday, commissioners approved — including raising the cap on Israel bonds from 3% of Miami-Dade’s $8 billion portfolio to 5% — without discussion.

Critics of the change expressed outrage at not being allowed to speak on the legislation before the full commission. Multiple speakers were allowed to make their points before Rodriguez instructed sheriff’s deputies to escort out people who chose to speak on the Israel bond item. “You didn’t even discuss it,” Jared Simon, who helped lead the campaign against the expanded investment rules for Israel bonds, told commissioners during the time for public comment on an unrelated item. “Many of you are not even listening to me right now.”

Later, Simon told the Miami Herald that he and his fellow advocates on the bond issue were not aligned with Fishback. “The people I was there with want nothing to do with Fishback,” he said.

Kevin Deutsch, who supports Garcia’s legislation, said he was told by commission staff that he couldn’t speak on the item. He said it was upsetting to see the meeting allow others to speak against it without giving him the chance to address commissioners, too. “I was not given the opportunity to counter the anti-Zionism hate movement,” he said on a social media post.

Fishback, who finished third in the Republican primary for governor last month, stayed in line for his chance at the microphone. “Mr. Chairman, I assure you I am not here to talk about Israel,” Fishback said. “I am not talking about that today because I don’t want to be escorted out by these great men and women in uniform.”

Then Fishback walked through his criticism of Miami-Dade purchasing Israel bonds, by asking if commissioners supported local communities or cities in that country. As he spoke, plain-clothed deputies approached the lectern and began escorting Fishback out as he continued speaking.

“We need a country that puts America first,” Fishback said, his back to the commission and his voice rising. The deputies moved Fishback to a rear exit of the chambers and down some stairs before shutting the door. In a text to the Miami Herald, Fishback said the confrontation ended with him ejected from County Hall. “They removed me to the street level,” he said.

During the campaign for governor, Fishback was a harsh critic of Israel and also drew accusations of antisemitism for some of his remarks.

Commissioner René Garcia, sponsor of the new investment policy, addressed the criticism after his legislation passed. He emphasized the changes only increase the limit on Israel bonds but don’t mandate that the county’s investment managers actually purchase those investments, which are administered by Miami-Dade’s elected clerk. “It gives the clerk and our investment personnel the flexibility to pick the best return on yields for this community,” he said.

This story was originally published September 1, 2026 at 12:15 PM.