NAACP issues a travel advisory against visiting Florida because of DeSantis
The NAACP’s National Board of Directors has issued a formal travel advisory for Florida, warning black and LGBTQ people not to visit the state due to Governor Ron DeSantis’ policies.
“Florida is openly hostile to African Americans, people of color and LGBTQ+ individuals,” the civil rights group’s advisory said Saturday night.
“Before traveling to Florida, understand that the state of Florida devalues and marginalizes the contributions of, and challenges faced by, African Americans and other communities of color,” it adds.
In a statement, the NAACP said the advisory was “a direct response” to the Florida governor’s “aggressive efforts to erase black history and limit diversity, equality, and inclusion programs in Florida schools.”
DeSantis, who is expected to announce his presidential campaign later this week, previously responded to the NAACP travel advisory proposal against Florida by calling the idea “a joke.”
NAACP President and CEO Derrick Johnson (left) berated DeSantis (right) over his education laws as the civil rights group issued a travel advisory against visiting Florida
The travel advice appears to be in response to a number of related measures DeSantis recently introduced into law.
Last Monday, DeSantis signed a bill banning the state’s public colleges and universities from spending money on diversity, equity, and inclusion programs.
“DEI is better seen as standing for discrimination, exclusion and indoctrination,” DeSantis said at the signing of the bill on the New College of Florida campus
The Republican governor also supported a move to block the Advanced Placement African American studies course in public schools, saying the course “lacks educational value.”
DeSantis has defended a number of other measures that restrict how schools deal with topics such as race and gender, with the governor claiming he is challenging inappropriate liberal ideology in the classroom.
His critics claim the measures are heavy-handed violations of free speech and an attempt to prevent educators from teaching important subjects.
NAACP President and CEO Derrick Johnson said in a statement: “Let me be clear: Failure to teach an accurate portrayal of the horrors and inequalities Black Americans have faced and continue to face is a disservice to students and dereliction of duty towards everyone. ‘
“Under Governor DeSantis’s leadership, the state of Florida has become hostile to black Americans and in direct conflict with the democratic ideals upon which our union is founded,” he added.
He needs to know that democracy will prevail because its defenders are willing to stand up and fight. We will not back down and we encourage our allies to join us in the fight for the soul of our nation,” Johnson said.
Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis signs legislation Monday banning state funding for diversity, equity and inclusion programs at Florida’s public universities
“DEI stands better for discrimination, exclusion and indoctrination,” DeSantis said at the signing of the bill on the New College of Florida campus.
LGBTQ rights advocates protested against DeSantis last year. DeSantis advocated for a number of measures restricting how schools deal with topics such as race and gender
DeSantis says he challenges inappropriate liberal ideology in the classroom. According to his critics, the measures are heavy-handed violations of freedom of expression
DeSantis has not yet publicly commented on the travel advisory, but dismissed the idea when it first emerged in March, when the Florida chapter of the NAACP first asked national leaders to consider the measure.
“What a joke,” he said at the time Florida politics. “Yes, we’ll see, we’ll see how effective that is.”
The governor likened the proposal to people traveling to Florida when pandemic restrictions prevailed elsewhere, where “they would be seen vacationing on the beach somewhere.”
“This is a stunt to try. It’s a pure stunt and fine, if you want to waste your time on a stunt, that’s fine. But I’m not wasting my time on your stunts,” DeSantis added.
Tourism is a major industry in Florida, and last year the state welcomed 137.6 million visitors, the highest number of visitors in the state’s history, according to data from Florida’s official tourism marketing company.
In 2021, Florida visitors contributed $101.9 billion to the Florida economy and supported more than 1.7 million Florida jobs, the group said.
Siesta Key Beach in Sarasota can be seen in a file photo. Tourism is a major industry in Florida and last year the state welcomed 137.6 million visitors
NCAA Board Chairman Leon Russell said in a statement that the travel advisory is part of a “battle to protect ourselves and our democracy.”
“Once again, hate-inspired state leaders have chosen to put politics before people,” Russell said.
“Governor Ron DeSantis and the State of Florida have engaged in a blatant war against the principles of diversity and inclusion, rejecting our shared identities to appeal to a dangerous, extremist minority,” he added.
‘We will not allow our rights and history to be held hostage by political grandeur’
The travel advisory was initially presented to the NAACP’s National Board of Directors by the NAACP’s Florida State Conference in March.
“What a travel advisory is, is that it allows us, the NAACP, to warn other blacks across the country not to come to Florida, not to send their children to Florida, not to vacation in Florida if you are black are,” James Muwakkil, the Lee County NAACP told the chapter president WINK TV at the time.
“The rose was put on the backs of black people by this governor,” he added.
“And so through this, if we get permission, we’re going to tell the rest of the world that we’re not going to tolerate second-class citizenship,” Muwakkil said.