NAACP issues travel advisory stating that Florida is ‘actively hostile’ to minorities
On Saturday, the NAACP issued an official travel warning for Florida in reaction to Gov. Ron DeSantis’ “aggressive attempts to erase Black history and to restrict diversity, equity, and inclusion programs in Florida schools.”
The League of United Latin American Citizens and LGBTQ advocacy group, Equality Florida, have already issued travel warnings, and now the civil rights organization is the latest to advise visitors against visiting Florida. Last month, the NAACP requested a travel advisory for Florida in response to rising political tension, according to a previous report by Detour.
“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,” NAACP President & CEO Derrick Johnson stated, according to CBS News. “He should know that democracy will prevail because its defenders are prepared to stand up and fight. We’re not backing down, and we encourage our allies to join us in the battle for the soul of our nation.”
The warning was issued only a few days before DeSantis is anticipated to begin his presidential campaign.
“As Governor DeSantis announced last week, Florida is seeing record-breaking tourism,” DeSantis’ press secretary shared in a recent statement on Monday, labeling the NAACP advisory “nothing more than a stunt.”
In an interview with the news outlet, Johnson outlined the reasoning behind the group’s choice.
“We began to look at the pattern and the comments, along with the public policy that Governor DeSantis and the Florida legislative body began to enact,” Johnson said. “And we recognize that it is not only a direct attack on the African American community, but the Latino community, on women, the LGBTQIA community, and that’s a problem.”
“He’s using his platform as governor to try to promote ‘otherism.’ or racial hate and division,” Johnson further elaborated. “That should not be the case. And America needs to understand as he prepares to run for the presidency, we cannot stand as a nation another individual occupying the White House with this type of belief system.”
The DeSantis administration blocked the launch of an AP course for high school students that focuses on African American studies in January. DeSantis backed legislation prohibiting teaching “critical race theory” in public schools.
“Florida is openly hostile toward African Americans, people of color, and LGBTQ+ individuals,” the NAACP travel warning further noted. “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.”
Sen. Ted Cruz, a Texas Republican, replied to the travel warning in a Sunday tweet by declaring it “bizarre” and “utterly dishonest.”
Cruz received a response from Dr. Bernice King, the youngest child of civil rights legend Martin Luther King Jr.
Florida relies heavily on the tourism industry, notes USA Today. According to Visit Florida, the official tourism board of the state, more than 137.5 million people vacationed in Florida last year. The state “experienced record tourism” in Q1 2023, with 37.9 million visitors, DeSantis said on Friday.
One of the top destinations for visitors, Disney, has been at odds with Governor DeSantis for some time. Disney recently abandoned a $1 billion project to construct a campus in Florida. Disney’s criticism of the state’s “Don’t Say Gay” statute sparked the dispute.
After DeSantis made the “Don’t Say Gay” law official, Equality Florida issued its warning.
“That law, along with additional proposals being considered, has turned the state’s classrooms into political battlefields and is telegraphing to LGBTQ families and students that they are not welcome in Florida,” the group said.
The League of United Latin American Citizens’ warning referred to stringent immigration regulations in Florida. The new immigration regulations, according to organization president Domingo Garcia, are “hostile and dangerous,” and they pose a real threat to Latinos.
“Florida is a dangerous, hostile environment for law-abiding Americans and immigrants,” Garcia asserted.
Evie Blanco is a journalist with nearly a decade of experience who was born in the Dominican Republic and raised in Queens, New York. She is extremely well-versed in hip-hop music and culture and is always aware of any developments within it. Whether it’s the latest in pop culture, a fascinating foreign destination, a truly amazing new restaurant, or breaking news, she loves to write about it all. Evie can be reached via email at evieblanco@detourxp.com.
This story was originally published May 24, 2023 at 9:35 AM with the headline "NAACP issues travel advisory stating that Florida is ‘actively hostile’ to minorities."