NAACP issues travel advisory for tourists travelling to Florida. All we know so far

The NAACP (National Association for the Advancement of Colored People) has issued a travel advisory for Florida. It has joined two other civil rights groups and warned potential tourists that recent laws and policies championed by Republican Governor Ron DeSantis and Florida lawmakers are "openly hostile toward African Americans, people of color and LGBTQ+ individuals." The Republican governor is expected to announce a run for the GOP presidential nomination this week, according to reports.

What Happened?

The NAACP's decision comes after the DeSantis' administration in January rejected the College Board’s Advanced Placement African American Studies course. DeSantis and Republican lawmakers also have pressed forward with measures that ban state colleges from having programs on diversity, equity and inclusion, as well as critical race theory, and also passed the Stop WOKE Act that restricts certain race-based conversations and analysis in schools and businesses.


In its warning for Hispanic travelers considering a visit to Florida, the League of United Latin American Citizens (LULAC) cited a new law that prohibits local governments from providing money to organizations that issue identification cards to people illegally in the country and invalidates out-of-state driver’s licenses held by undocumented immigrants, among other things. The law also requires hospitals that accept Medicaid to include a citizenship question on intake forms, which critics have said is intended to dissuade immigrants living in the U.S. illegally from seeking medical care.

Diversity and Inclusion

Florida is one of the most popular states in the US for tourists, and tourism is one of its biggest industries. More than 137.5 million tourists visited Florida last year, marking a return to pre-pandemic levels, according to Visit Florida, the state's tourism promotion agency. Tourism supports 1.6 million full-time and part-time jobs, and visitors spent $98.8 billion in Florida in 2019, the last year figures are available.

Several of Florida's Democratic mayors were quick to say Sunday that their cities welcomed diversity and inclusion.

FAQs

Q1. What is going on in Florida?
A1. Republican Governor of Florida Ron DeSantis rejected the College Board’s Advanced Placement African American Studies course.

Q2. Is it safe to travel Florida?
A2. The NAACP has issued a travel advisory for Florida.