Rep. Maxwell Alejandro Frost has been a bright spot for Florida Democrats, and at 27 years old represents Gen-Z’s entrance into the U.S. House of Representatives.
Last Saturday, he brought a who’s who of progressive politicians and newsmakers to Orlando for the day-long MadSoul rally and music festival, which included a headlining set by Muna (and cameo from Phoebe Bridgers).
Attendees included Tennessee state Rep. Justin Jones, Orlando’s own Florida Rep. Anna Eskamani, U.S. Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, Montana state Rep. Zooey Zephyr, Stoneman Douglas shooting survivor and activist, David Hogg, Human Rights Campaign National Press Secretary Brandon Wolf, and more.
The festival highlighted Frost’s message that working towards progressive causes is less about any one person and more about the collective effort from the kinds of people who coalesced at Loch Haven Park in the Mills 50 District. Frost called on everyone to build towards “a Florida that works for everybody,” no matter who they are.
“That’s what love is about. When you love somebody, you don’t want them to get shot in the streets. You don’t want them to go poor because you’re deciding between medicine and rent. We all deserve these things,” he added.
MadSoul was not without tension either.
Outside, a contingent continued growing calls not just for a ceasefire in Gaza, but an end to U.S. aid to Israel. And while Frost was among those last month who voted against HR 7217, the Israel Security Supplemental Appropriations Act, activists inside and onstage at MadSoul took politicians to task over some Democrats’ support of HR 894 or “Anti-Zionism Is Antisemitism” resolution (Frost, along with Tampa’s Democratic congressional Rep. Kathy Castor voted yes on a motion to agree with it, while others like Ocasio-Cortez voted no).
Winnie, an activist and escort at Orlando’s Swan reproductive clinic, was given a microphone alongside Jones and Ocasio-Cortez, and used the time to talk about how some politicians have been complicit in the “U.S.-backed genocide happening in Palestine.”
“The very same elected officials who put on this event have all come to party and be distracted by performative activism are the same politicians who are remaining complicit in genocide,” Winnie said. “They have voted in favor of sending arms and aid to Israel, support their continued occupation of Palestine, even after a ceasefire. And we understand that both ceasefire may give Gazans a moment to breathe it means it would also not be able to fight back against their occupation.”
Winnie called for a ban on sending precision-guided missiles to Israel, the continued condemnation of Hamas, a push for a ceasefire resolution and “a total end to the occupation.”
Frost told Creative Loafing Tampa Bay that making your voice heard in any way possible is at the core of our democracy and that. he respects everyone’s right to fight for what they believe in.
“As someone who was out in the streets, got arrested, tear gassed, and maced during the Black Lives Matter uprising — I got elected to Congress as an organizer and protestor at heart,” Frost added. ” I’m currently the only member of Congress in the state of Florida calling for a ceasefire and thanked the ceasefire demonstrators that were outside the festival from the stage. I’m proud to have hosted an impactful event that centered the arts and advocacy as we fight right-wing neo-fascism in the South. MadSoul is about connecting music to the issues that impact our lives.”
UPDATED: 03/04/23 11:20 a.m. Updated with a statement from Rep. Frost.
