The NAACP is warning people of color to stay away from Florida because the state has become “openly hostile” towards Black people under the leadership of Gov. Ron DeSantis (R).
The NAACP said Florida has “engaged in an all-out attack on Black Americans, accurate Black history, voting rights, members of the LGBTQ+community, immigrants, women’s reproductive rights, and free speech” while “simultaneously embracing a culture of fear, bullying and intimidation by public officials.”
“On a seeming quest to silence African-American voices, the Governor and the State of Florida have shown that African Americans are not welcome in the State of Florida,” the advisory says. “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.”
DeSantis and Republicans in Florida have led a concerted effort to restrict how race is taught in the state’s public schools. Earlier this year, the Florida Department of Education rejected an Advanced Placement course on African American studies because it “significantly lacks educational value.” The department also rejected math textbooks due to “impermissible” content, including lessons on critical race theory.
One textbook publisher in the state even took the drastic step of removing any mention of race from Rosa Park’s story in an effort to get their books approved by a committee reviewing the state’s social studies curriculum.
In the statement on Saturday the NAACP said they issued the travel advisory for Florida “in direct response to Governor Ron DeSantis’ aggressive attempts to erase Black history and to restrict diversity, equity, and inclusion programs in Florida schools.”
“Let me be clear – 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,” NAACP President & CEO Derrick Johnson said in a statement.
“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 added.
The NAACP’s announcement comes days after another advocacy group, the League of United Latin American Citizens (LULAC), issued a travel advisory urging Latinos not to travel to Florida after DeSantis signed an immigration law set to go in effect on July 1.
