The NAACP has issued a travel warning for Florida in response to what they claim are policies by Governor Ron DeSantis that seek to erase Black history. The civil rights group states that Florida openly exhibits hostility towards African Americans, people of color, and LGBTQ+ individuals. They advise individuals to be aware of these values before visiting the state.
The NAACP expressed particular outrage over Florida’s rejecting student access to AP programs for African American studies. In response, the organization sent 10,000 books, many of which were on banned books lists, to Black communities across the state. The group believes that the state’s failure to accurately teach the struggles and inequalities faced by Black Americans is a disservice to students and a neglect of duty.
Derrick Johnson, the president and CEO of the NAACP, stated that “under the leadership of Gov. 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.” Johnson called on allies to join the struggle to uphold the spirit of the country.
Governor DeSantis dismissed the travel ban as a stunt when the issue was brought up by the Florida chapter of the NAACP in March. His aide, Christina Pushaw, mocked the warning on Twitter.
