Travel warnings and advisories issued against Florida
If you haven’t already, feel free to add the NAACP to those respected civil rights organizations who feel that Ron DeSantis, along with the Florida State Legislature, have made sweeping advances in the trampling of individual’s freedoms and liberties in the Sunshine State. In addition to civil rights groups, students and teachers across Florida are also growing in opposition to his recent legislative actions and are fighting against his curtailing academic freedoms in what can be taught in schools – even at the college level.
On Saturday, May 20, the NAACP Board of Directors issued a formal travel advisory for the State of Florida, in direct response to Florida Governor Ron DeSantis’ attempts to “erase Black history and to restrict diversity, equity, and inclusion programs in Florida schools.”
The formal travel warning states:
“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.”
“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,” said NAACP President & CEO Derrick Johnson.
“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. 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.”
Earlier this year, Desantis blocked student access to a new Advanced Placement course for high school students on African American studies.
Other organizations representing marginalized groups in the state, including the Florida immigrant coalition and the LGBTQ civil rights group, have also issued similar advisories. ~ABC News
Videos:
- LGBTQ advocacy group issues travel warning in Florida
- More groups issue travel advisories for Florida
The travel advisory was initially proposed to the Board of Directors by NAACP’s Florida State Conference. NAACP’s collective consideration of this advisory is a result from unrelenting attacks on fundamental freedoms from the Governor and his legislative body.
“Once again, hate-inspired state leaders have chosen to put politics over people. Governor Ron DeSantis and the state of Florida have engaged in a blatant war against principles of diversity and inclusion and rejected our shared identities to appeal to a dangerous, extremist minority,” said Chair of the NAACP Board of Directors, Leon Russell.
“We will not not allow our rights and history to be held hostage for political grandstanding. The NAACP proudly fights against the malicious attacks in Florida, against Black Americans. I encourage my fellow Floridians to join in this fight to protect ourselves and our democracy.”
The travel warning went on to state that, “following DeSantis’ so-called leadership in driving the state to reject students’ access to AP African American studies course in March,” the NAACP distributed 10,000 books to 25 predominantly Black communities across the state in collaboration with the American Federation of Teachers’s Reading Opens the World program. The majority of the books donated were titles banned under the state’s increasingly restrictive laws. The NAACP continues to encourage local branches and youth councils to start community libraries to ensure access to representative literature.
The NAACP has encouraged Florida residents to join their effort to defeat the regressive policies of DeSantis and his Florida state legislature. Interested residents and supporters can visit www.naacp.org for additional information and updates.
For more on the travel advisory coming as a direct response to Ron DeSantis’ “aggressive attempt to erase Black history and to restrict diversity, equity, and inclusion programs in Florida schools,” see the video accompanying this atoicle.
(Source: NAACP)
Posted by Richard Webster, Ace News Today / Follow Richard on Facebook, Twitter & Instagram
