In Orlando, the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) Florida State conference voted unanimously to seek permission from its national leadership to issue a travel advisory for the state claiming “safety concerns.”
In January, The Gateway Pundit reported that the NAACP is considering filing a lawsuit over Florida banning a high school AP African American Studies class that contained sections on Critical Race Theory and Queer Theory.
The course was banned after a review found that it violated the state law prohibiting CRT from being taught in K-12 classrooms.
A decision is expected in May from NAACP leadership on whether to issue the travel advisory.
10 Investigates first reported on Tuesday the Florida NAACP Florida State Conference voted unanimously over the weekend to ask its national office for approval to issue a travel advisory in the wake of recent policies and legislation targeting diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) initiatives.
One of the bills, HB 999, in its current form would ban certain courses on gender studies and race. Some in higher education contend that DEI courses are an invaluable learning tool. Should the law pass, certain majors like women’s studies and any subject surrounding critical race theory would be eliminated as well. The bill is headed to the State Senate for approval.
“We would issue this to anyone who is thinking of coming to Florida, thinking of sending their children to school — anyone planning to breathe in Florida,” Florida NAACP legislative affairs chair Marsha Ellison told 10 Investigates earlier this week. “We want people to be ‘woke.'”
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The push for the travel advisory is also in response to the state’s rejection of an Advanced Placement African American Studies course. In a letter, the state said it “lacks educational value.”
Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis said Black history is taught in Florida schools as its part of the core curriculum, but called the proposed AP African American Studies course “indoctrination, not education.”
The College Board fired back against the Florida Department of Education calling their characterization of course materials “slander” and said it is politically motivated.
“What a joke. What a joke. Yeah, we’ll see how effective that is. Our country, you know, it goes through all these – we get involved in these stupid fights. This is a stunt to try to do that. It’s a pure stunt, and fine if you want to waste your time on a stunt, that’s fine. Look, I mean, I’m not wasting my time on your stunts. OK. I’m gonna make sure that we’re getting good things done here. And we’re gonna continue to make this state a great state.”
BREAKING: DeSantis reacts to @NAACP urging a “travel advisory” for Fla.
“What a joke! […] These people would be on CNN [and] then they would end up being [spotted] vacationing in Florida! […] This is a stunt, to try to do that [….] I’m not wasting my time on your stunts.” pic.twitter.com/XfETFqWybE
— Florida’s Voice (@FLVoiceNews) March 23, 2023
Florida is no stranger to political stunts from other states and organizations trying to force their wokeness on a free state.
In February, San Francisco, California quietly admitted they need red states. The City had enacted an ordinance prohibiting contracting with companies or allowing city officials to travel to states, including Florida, that restrict abortion or have laws city officials decide are discriminatory against minorities or gays.
A report assessing the effectiveness of the ban reveals that the ban has raised the cost of the City’s annual contracting cost by as much as 20 percent. The report confirms, “This increase suggests that the city’s threat of boycott may not serve as a compelling deterrent to states considering restrictive policies.”
