Florida Governor Ron DeSantis speaks to a crowd at the North Charleston Coliseum on April 19, 2023 in North Charleston, South Carolina. The Governor's appearance marks his first official visit to the "First in the South" presidential primary state amid mounting anticipation of his 2024 presidential candidacy.
The National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) issued a recommendation on Saturday, May 20, advising its members and the general public to not travel to Florida.
The travel advisory stated, "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," as reported by The Hill.
'Do Not Travel to Florida'
According to the NAACP Board of Directors, Governor Ron DeSantis is making a concerted effort to eradicate Black history and limit diversity, equality, and inclusion initiatives in Florida schools, which prompted them to issue this warning.
In a report by ABC 11, the group's official notice declares, "Florida is openly hostile toward African Americans, people of color, and LGBTQ+ individuals. 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."
Derrick Johnson, President and CEO of the NAACP, said in a statement that Florida has grown unfriendly to African-Americans and antithetical to the democratic principles on which the nation was formed under Governor Desantis. He added that those who believe in and fight for democracy will eventually win.
Johnson assured that his organization would not back down. Instead, they are encouraging their supporters to join them in the fight for the "soul" of the state.
The Florida immigrant coalition and the Florida LGBTQ civil rights group, named Equality Florida, have also issued identical warnings on behalf of their respective underrepresented communities in the state.
Equality Florida's recommendation was released last month in response to the passing of bills that it claims are unfriendly to the LGBTQ community. The group said the new rules limit access to reproductive health care, repeal gun safety regulations, incite racial prejudice, and assault public education by banning books and censoring curriculum.
See Also: Ron DeSantis To Launch 2024 US Presidential Campaign Next Week: Reports
Governor Desantis' Moves
Reportedly, Governor Desantis has been preventing high school students from enrolling in a new Advanced Placement (AP) course on African American studies since it was introduced earlier this year. Politico previously reported how the governor stood by the state's decision to deny students admission to an AP African American studies course despite criticism from Black leaders.
The Stop WOKE Act was also signed by Florida's governor. Apparently, it establishes restrictions on how topics of race may be addressed in the context of mandatory training and education.
In a statement to ABC News, a representative for Governor DeSantis said, "We aren't going to waste our time worrying about political stunts. We will continue doing what is right for Floridians."
