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Thursday, June 15th, 2023

NAACP Issues Travel Advisory in Florida

Author:     Chyna Fields
Source:     NAACP
Publication Date:     May 20, 2023
 Link: NAACP Issues Travel Advisory in Florida
Stephan:  

When I was a teenager back in the 1950s a Black friend whose family was planning a trip to visit relatives in Florida showed me what they called the Green Book. Almost all Black families that travelled had a copy. It told them how they could safely travel through the South; where it was safe to eat, where you could stay the night. As I held it and read it I was appalled. This was America and I was revulsed that my friend, and other Black families like his, had to travel in this way. It was one of the things that prompted me to become an active participant in the Civil Rights Movement. Today 66 years later I was appalled once again that the NAACP has felt it had to issue an advisory warning Black people about traveling to Florida. That’s what DeSantis and the White GOP state legislators have done to a state that depends on visitors and agricultural workers. Living in a Red state if you are an LGBTQ or person of color, or a fertile woman of any race, is becoming highly problematic, and I expect it will get worse.

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, the NAACP Board of Directors issued a formal travel advisory for the state of Florida. The travel advisory 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 formal travel notice 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 […]

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3 Comments

  1. sam crespi on Thursday, June 15, 2023 at 3:34 am

    Extraordinary. And very, very sad. That said, I’m grateful you published this. I will be forward the link to friends who need to know.

  2. Terri Quint on Thursday, June 15, 2023 at 5:36 am

    As a Florida resident who moved back here 15 years ago, I am ashamed of this state where once I was proud to be a Floridian.

    It’s not just Black people who have to worry, but immigrants, LBTQ, and other minorities that make this state unsafe for them.

    More than likely, this was probably an undertone in the recent past, but with Ron DeSantis as governor, it is overt racism and prejudice that prevails in Florida. And he seems proud of it!!!

    This is a man who clearly would destroy this country (more than Trump did) because he’s younger, smarter, and far more determined to rule, not govern.

    Terri Quint

  3. S B on Thursday, June 15, 2023 at 9:25 am

    See the superb movie, “Green Book”. First I ever heard (although I was told, a Jewish friend driving from NY was admonished, “Change your license plates before you get there !”