NAACP issues Florida travel advisory in response to DeSantis

ORLANDO, Fla. — Another group is taking on Florida’s number one industry of tourism.

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The National Association for the Advancement of Colored People issued a travel advisory for the entire state Saturday.

The NAACP said this is in response to Governor Ron DeSantis’s changes in schools, specifically those surrounding diversity, equity and inclusion.

The travel notice reads in part,

“Before traveling to Florida, please understand that the state devalues and marginalizes the contributions of, and the challenges faced by African Americans and other communities of color.”

Read: DeSantis signs 5 new bills into law targeting the LGBTQ community

A raucous crowd of supporters greeted the governor during his Orlando visit Saturday.

His remarks focused on the recent bills he signed into law during this legislative session.

“This state is where woke goes to die,” he said.

But the NAACP has different thoughts on the subject.

“It turned into the state where common sense went to die,” said Leon Russell, Chair of the NAACP Board of Directors.

Read: Gov. DeSantis was the keynote speaker Saturday at an annual Orange County gala

In March, the organization gave out 10,000 books to predominantly black communities in response to legislation limiting African-American studies in school.

The group has now issued a travel advisory that they say is in direct response to DeSantis, claiming he is attempting to erase Black history.

“Florida is openly hostile toward African Americans, people of color and LGBTQ+ individuals,” the notice said.

Read: NAACP town hall addresses education changes with DeSantis’s new laws

This is similar wording to the notice that Equality Florida used in April when it issued a travel advisory of its own against Florida.

The DeSantis administration sent Channel 9 a statement on that travel advisory, which said:

“As the governor noted previously, this type of thing is a political stunt. We aren’t going to waste time worrying about political stunts but will continue doing what is right for Floridians.”

Channel 9 contacted the governor’s office for a response to the NAACP’s travel advisory and is waiting to hear back.

Click here to read the full advisory.

VIDEO: Equality Florida issues travel advisory warning against visiting, moving to the state Equality Florida issued a travel advisory today warning the LGBTQ community to avoid visiting or relocating to the state. (Ashley Edlund, WFTV.com/WFTV)

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