NAACP Says Florida is 'Openly Hostile Toward African Americans'
AllSides Summary
The NAACP issued a formal travel advisory advising against visiting the state of Florida, declaring the state to be “openly hostile toward African Americans, people of color and LGBTQ+ individuals.”
Details: A press release from the NAACP states the decision “comes in direct response to Governor Ron DeSantis' aggressive attempts to erase Black history and to restrict diversity, equity, and inclusion programs in Florida schools.” The statement claims Gov. Ron DeSantis (R) has made Florida “hostile to Black Americans and in direct conflict with the democratic ideals that our union was founded upon.” According to the statement, the Florida State School Board’s rejection of the AP African American studies curriculum in March was a key decision leading to the advisory. The school board said the curriculum lacked “educational value.”
Key Quotes: NAACP President Derrick Johnson told CNN (Lean Left Bias), “we are advising African Americans and others that if you travel to Florida, beware that your life is not valued, that we have a political landscape that could cause harm as we prepare for the 2024 elections to right-size the political landscape in the state of Florida.” Rep. Byron Donalds (R-FL), who is black, called the advisory “really stupid” while speaking on Fox News Opinion (Right Bias), adding, “This is silly and it’s dumb. It’s political. It makes no sense.”
How The Media Covered It: The advisory was most prominently covered by outlets on the left and center. Fox News coverage quoted only voices opposing the travel advisory and defending the state.
Featured Coverage of this Story
From the Left
NAACP president explains why the group issued Florida travel advisory
NAACP President Derrick Johnson on Monday said African Americans’ lives “are not valued” in Florida, which is why the organization has issued a travel advisory in response to the state’s education, immigration and LGBTQ policies.
“We didn’t end here overnight. It was because of the election,” Johnson said on “CNN This Morning.” “So we have to prepare for the next election, so we can get rid of him once and for all. This othering that we have seen first by Trump, now by him, is not only un-American, it’s dangerous,...
From the Right
DeSantis dismisses NAACP’s Florida travel advisory ‘stunt,' cites record-high tourist travel
Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis on Monday dismissed the NAACP's formal travel advisory that accused Florida of being "openly hostile toward African Americans, people of color and LGBTQ+ individuals," and said recent tourist travel data shows Florida has never been more popular for all travelers.
"As Governor DeSantis announced last week, Florida is seeing record-breaking tourism," DeSantis press secretary Jeremy Redfern told Fox News Digital in reaction to NAACP's travel advsory. "This is nothing more than a stunt."
Redfern noted that DeSantis just last month celebrating Florida getting 37.9 million tourist...
From the Center
NAACP Issues Travel Advisory for ‘Openly Hostile’ Florida
The NAACP issued a travel advisory for Florida over the weekend to warn potential tourists of state laws and policies that the group sees as hostile to LGBT people and people of color.
The advisory is in response to Gov. Ron DeSantis’s “aggressive attempts to erase Black history” and restrict diversity, equity and inclusion programs in Florida schools, the advisory said.
Tourists should understand that “Florida is openly hostile toward African-Americans, people of color and LGBTQ+ individuals,” said the NAACP, a longstanding advocacy group for Black Americans.
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