The NAACP has issued a formal travel advisory for Florida, noting that under Gov. Ron DeSantis (R), the state has become “hostile to Black Americans” and other diverse groups.
“Florida is openly hostile toward African Americans, people of color and LGBTQ+ individuals,” the NAACP said. “Before traveling to Florida, please understand that the state of Florida devalues and marginalizes the contributions of, and the challenges faced by African Americans and other communities of color.”
The advisory goes on to say that DeSantis appears to be on a “quest to silence African-American voices” and that he and the state have shown “African Americans are not welcome” there.
“Due to this sustained, blatant, relentless and systemic attack on democracy and civil rights, the NAACP hereby issues a travel advisory to African Americans, and other people of color regarding the hostility towards African Americans in Florida,” the group added.
In the advisory, the group pointed to some of DeSantis’s more controversial policies, most recently a piece of legislation prohibiting colleges from spending public funds on diversity, equity, and inclusion efforts. The bill was signed into law last Monday.
Other moves from DeSantis that the NAACP pointed to include the Stop WOKE Act, which restricts workplaces and schools from discussing race in required training or instruction.
The act also stopped the Advanced Placement of African American Studies course in the state’s public schools, alleging that it lacked “educational value.”
Derrick Johnson, the President and CEO of the NAACP, shared a statement in the advisory, saying that “failing to teach an accurate representation of the horrors and inequalities that Black Americans have faced and continue to face is a disservice to students and a dereliction of duty to all.”
“Under the leadership of Governor Desantis, the state of Florida has become hostile to Black Americans and in direct conflict with the democratic ideals that our union was founded upon,” Johnson said.
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