The National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) has issued a travel advisory for the US state of Florida due to alleged hostility towards people of color. The organization claims that Governor Ron DeSantis has implemented several controversial policies that show that black people are “not welcome” in Florida.
Some of the measures cited in the travel advisory include the Governor’s recent signing of a bill that prohibits colleges from spending public funds on diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives. DeSantis also signed the “Stop WOKE Act,” which limits discussion of race during training or instruction.
The advisory urges people of color, LGBTQ+ people, and other minorities to “please understand that Florida devalues and marginalizes” them. It also raises issue with the rejection of an AP African American studies course by the state’s Department of Education earlier this year.
The Governor has attracted attention for his conservative policies in recent times, including the signing of a bill banning state funding for Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) programs at public universities in Florida. DeSantis has criticized DEI initiatives as “trendy” and “woke,” despite their longstanding presence on college campuses and in workplaces.
This move by the NAACP follows a similar travel advisory issued by Equality Florida, which highlighted a range of laws passed in the state deemed to be “hostile” to minority groups. Governor DeSantis has dismissed the advisory as a “political stunt,” adding that his administration would “continue doing what is right for Floridians.”
The NAACP President and CEO has criticized DeSantis’ policies, including his bid to curtail diversity, equity, and inclusion programs and his administration’s rejection of the College Board’s Advanced Placement African American Studies class. The refusal to teach an accurate representation of Black Americans, according to the NAACP, is a “disservice to students” and a “dereliction of duty.”
It remains to be seen what impact the travel advisory will have on the state’s economy, given that travel-related industries are a significant part of Florida’s economy. However, it serves as a warning to policymakers that there are consequences to actions that are viewed as harmful to minority groups.
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