Democratic Rep. Williams calls bill requiring public schools teach history of communism ‘hurtful’

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – Rep. Patricia Williams, D-Pompano Beach, called a bill that would require Florida public schools to teach the history of communism “hurtful.”

“We have several kids [who] can’t read on grade level and we want to put something in the classroom to divide them,” Williams said. “Hatred.”

The bill would also establish a “History of Communism Task Force” that would be overseen by the Department of Education. Members would be appointed by the governor.

In addition, the task force may recommend to the legislature the creation of a museum of communist history.

Rep. Robert Charles Brannan, R-Lake City, and Rep. James Buchanan, R-North Port, sponsored HB 1349, which passed 10-2 through a House Pre-K-12 Appropriations Subcommittee Tuesday.

Williams and Rep. Bracy Davis, D-Orlando, voted down on the bill.

Sen. Jay Collins, R-Tampa, sponsored similar legislation, SB 1246, in the Senate.

During debate, Rep. Danny Alvarez, R-Riverview, slammed those against the bill and said it “baffles” him that certain lawmakers put their “heads in the sand about the horrors of communism.”

“Here we are, 100 million humans murdered under the system of communism, and we have the gall to stand up and say that it’s going to divide us,” Alvarez said.

Alvarez said he is choosing “freedom,” which is “not the communist side.”

“I feel like you have no choice but to vote up, unless you can’t look at yourself in the mirror,” Alvarez said.

During debate, Williams called the bill “hurtful.”

“You talk about ‘we want to erase the history of Black American because we don’t want someone to feel uncomfortable,’” Williams said. “We don’t want someone to feel out of place. But when you are laying down legislatives like this, what do you think that’s gonna happen?”

Directing her argument to the bill sponsor, Williams called him a “hypocrite.”

Rep. Alina Garcia, R-Miami, who was born in Cuba and fled the country with her family “because of the communist regime,” said it is “never too early” to teach children about the “atrocities of communism.”

“When we don’t learn from our history, we are destined to repeat it, and there will be nowhere to go, God forbid if this country ever falls into the hands of communism,” Garcia said.

Garcia said communism “sounds really good, but it’s not” and is just a way of “controlling the people.”

“The reality of [communism] is, it only brings misery, pain and suffering,” Garcia said.

John Labriola with the Christian Family Coalition of Florida, spoke in “strong support” of the bill.

Speaking for the coalition, Labriola said they were “disappointed” to see Democrats voting against the bill.

“In the past, I believe, you know, the entire nation has been united in the fight against communism,” Labriola said. “We fought wars over this. So we hope that in this committee, there will be bipartisan support.”

In closing, Brannan said the bill is “not divisive in any way.”

“There’s nothing nefarious about this,” Brannan said. “It simply aims to provide a comprehensive understanding of communism’s impact. Not as indoctrination or fear mongering, but as a means of acknowledging its role in victimizing, torturing, murdering, and displacing millions of people in the past century.”

Buchanan said there’s “no reason that this should be a party line vote bill.”

“This bill simply creates a framework in working with the task force and department of education to come up with age appropriate curriculum that can be taught in school,” Buchanan said. “It does nothing more than that.”

Under the bill, beginning in the 2026-2027 school year, teachings of communism for Florida students would cover its history in the U.S. and domestic communist movements, including their histories and tactics.

It would also require schools to teach the atrocities committed in foreign countries under the guidance of communism and the philosophy and lineages of “communist thought” including cultural Marxism, according to the bill.

Communism is often practiced through Marxism, a theory founded by German economist Karl Marx. The term is a social, political, and economic philosophy arguing the effects of capitalism.

Marx studied, in part, capitalism’s role in labor, productivity, and economic development. He also believed a “work revolution” was necessary to replace capitalism with communism.

The communist policies of Cuba and the spread of communist ideologies throughout Latin America, including the roots of the Communist Party of Cuba and guerrilla forces throughout Latin America would also be required instruction under the bill.

Cuba has long been ruled under Communism, including by former leaders Fidel and Raul Castro for over 60 years.

According to Pew research data, 64% of America’s Cuban population lived in Florida, far outpacing any other state in the country. South Florida, in particular, is home to many Cuban Americans who fled their home country due to communist rule since the 1950’s.

Schools would also be required to teach of the increasing threat of communism in the U.S. and America’s allies through the 20th Century including the events of the Cultural Revolution in the People’s Republic of China and other mass killings from communist regimes.

Furthermore, under the bill, required instruction would include the economic, industrial, and political events that have preceded and anticipated communist revolutions.

Moreover, Florida school districts are asked to certify to the Florida Department of Education that the subject matter is being taught successfully.

Any changes to the curriculum will be recommended by the task force and the Division of Historical Resources. The deadline to submit any adjustments is July 1, 2025.

If passed through both legislative chambers and signed by the governor, the bill would have an effective date of July 1.