CLEARWATER, Fla. — Two dedicated public servants from Florida have come together to encourage healthy political dialogue between people and across party lines.

What You Need To Know

  • The movement called ‘Respect and Rebellion’ was founded by District 59 Republican State Rep. Berny Jacques and Democrat Geston Pierre.

  • Both are children of Haitian immigrants and have been friends since middle school.

  • The two dedicated public servants from Florida have come together to encourage healthy political dialogue between people and across party lines.

  • Berny and Geston are planning to host more virtual and in-person presentations about their friendship and opposing political views.

The movement called ‘Respect and Rebellion’ was founded by District 59 Republican State Representative Berny Jacques and Democrat Pastor Geston Pierre.

They have been friends since middle school.

Jacques and Pierre say that their opposing political views have never compromised their friendship.

“We don’t agree on almost anything except that we are still friends,” said Geston Pierre.

Both share Haitian roots and were raised by parents who immigrated to the United States and worked hard to achieve the American dream.

“He came out on the other side of the coin, and I’m a staunch conservative,” said Jacques.

Together, they tour college campuses and organizations that are trying to build relationships with people across party lines.

“We want to have our young people to reject the idea that just because you hear something that is contrary to your belief system, it doesn’t mean you have to silence them and bury it,” said Jacques.

“We’ve been on several campuses and sharing with students about the importance of being comfortable with being uncomfortable in order to facilitate relationships, even with people who disagree with you," said Pierre.

Both agree that the 2024 election has been increasingly polarizing.

However, they have different views on the situation in Springfield, Ohio, where Haitian immigrants have become the center of attention. Pierre believes that more support, rather than hostility, is necessary.

“There is no place for Haitian slander. They are people, resilient people, who are amazing, who contribute to the fabric of our nation,” said Pierre.

Jacques says America’s immigration policies need work and should prioritize citizens over immigrants.

“The facts are there are an uptick of traffic accidents, there are education systems being overwhelmed, there are limited resources when it comes to housing because of this mass influx. We can't ignore that fact just becasome something about cats and dogs was said,” he said.

Florida is home to the largest Haitian-American population in the U.S., with more than 500,000 people.

“We can’t assume that all 500,000 of those Haitians in Florida are Democrats because we’re not. There is diversity of thought, diversity of preferences,” said Pierre.

“I have engaged with some Haitian-Americans that are going to be voting for Donald Trump, and they are doing it because they believe during his four years groceries were much cheaper,” said Jacques.

Both encourage citizens to use their right to free speech, whether by speaking or by voting.

“Everybody should have the benefit of hearing different viewpoints. This is what other countries don’t have,” said Jacques.

"At the end of the day, you have to make decisions. Is the friendship more important, or your personal preferences?" Pierre added.

Their friendship is a testimony that we can all ‘agree to disagree’.

They are planning to host more virtual and in-person presentations about their friendship and opposing political views.