NAACP warns against travel to Florida.

NAACP Issues Travel Advisory for Florida

The National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) has issued a formal travel advisory for Florida. According to the organization, the state is openly hostile towards African Americans, people of color, and LGBTQ+ individuals.

The advisory states, “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.”

This warning from the NAACP comes in response to Governor Ron DeSantis and his administration’s “aggressive attempts to erase Black history and to restrict diversity, equity, and inclusion programs in Florida schools.”

According to the NAACP, “Under its current Governor, the State of 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.”

NAACP President and CEO Derrick Johnson stated, “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.”

Civil Rights Groups Warn Against Travel to Florida

Last month, the NAACP and other civil rights groups warned people not to come to Florida following the proposal of some of the toughest immigration laws in years. Governor DeSantis dismissed these warnings and referred to them as “a joke.”

Governor DeSantis’ spokesman issued a statement to News4JAX last month, stating, “As the governor noted previously, this type of thing is a political stunt. We aren’t going to waste time on political stunts but will continue doing what is right for Floridians.”

Support from the Northside Coalition

The warning from the NAACP received support from the Northside Coalition in Jacksonville. Leader Ben Fraizer wrote in a statement, “We are asking the Governor to sit down and talk with Our Coalition of Black leaders. Unless we meet and decide a positive course of action NCOJ will be forced to initiate direct action protests and boycotts.”