- Dave McCleary
NAACP and LULAC Urging People of Color Against Traveling to Florida
The National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) has joined the League of United Latin American Citizens (LULAC) and a growing list of organizations issuing a travel advisory, specifically urging People of Color not to visit the state of Florida. The advisories stems from concerns over what the organizations describes as Governor Ron DeSantis' continuous and systematic attack on democracy and civil rights.
According to NAACP President & CEO Derrick Johnson, Florida, under its current leadership, has launched an aggressive assault on Black Americans, accurate Black history, voting rights, LGBTQ+ individuals, immigrants, women's reproductive rights, and free speech. Johnson expressed concern about rewriting American history to exclude the voices and contributions of African Americans, while simultaneously enacting legislation that perpetuates systemic racism.
The NAACP advisory follows similar actions taken by other organizations, including the League of United Latin American Citizens (LULAC) and Equality Florida, an LGBTQ advocacy group. LULAC issued their advisory on May 17, citing anti-immigrant measures signed into law by Governor DeSantis, while Equality Florida's advisory was in response to the "Don't Say Gay" bill recently enacted.
In response to the advisory, Governor DeSantis' press secretary dismissed it as nothing more than a stunt, emphasizing that Florida continues to experience record-breaking tourism.
NAACP, LULAC, and Equality Florida believe that their travel advisories are necessary to draw attention to what they perceive as harmful legislation and policies that adversely affect marginalized communities. The advisories aim to inform individuals about the potential risks associated with visiting or engaging in activities in Florida.
"LULAC exposes the extensive impact of Governor DeSantis' sweeping anti-immigrant, anti-Christian family rampage, harming the Florida economy and further marginalizing immigrant communities. Bill 1718 goes into effect July 1, 2023," organization president Domingo Garcia said in a statement.
As the travel advisories gain attention, discussions surrounding the impact of these laws on civil rights, democracy, and equality continue to intensify. Advocacy groups, public officials, and community leaders are actively participating in these conversations to address the concerns raised by these organizations.
