NAACP Orlando Chapter Votes Unanimously to request National Board of Directors to Issue Travel Advisory
By Kristen Hernandez
Pompano Beach, FL – In a direct attempt to prevent Florida state governor, Ron DeSantis, from becoming President of the United States, the NAACP met in Orlando to discuss how to “send a message” to voters over legislation regarding race, gender identity, diversity and equity. They unanimously voted to send a request to the NAACP National Board of Directors to issue a travel advisory.
If issued, the travel advisory would urge black and brown individuals to avoid moving to or visiting the state of Florida, due to the governor’s blatant attacks and relentless efforts to cause further divide among minority groups all over the state. NAACP leaders described the governor’s laws and policies as “Draconian” and “repressive.”
President of the Fort Lauderdale NAACP chapter, Marsha Ellison, told Villij News, “We wanted the request to get to the board right away to make sure it’s on the agenda for their May meeting. Once these ridiculous bills pass through, we plan to amend the request to include things that are directly affecting people of color. Like permit-less carry, universal [education] vouchers, a number of things not passed yet, but are on their desks.”
When the governor pushed the Stop Woke Act, which restricts gender orientation and instruction and race-based conversations and analysis in business and education, DeSantis said, “What you see now with the rise of this woke ideology is an attempt to really delegitimize our history and our institutions, and I view the “wokeness” as a form of Marxism.”
Hillsboro County NAACP president, Yvette Lewis, noted during a press conference that attempts to curtail the civil liberties of African Americans and other marginalized groups predates the current legislative session. “Saying you don’t want Advanced American Studies because they have certain topics on it, certain words; don’t want companies to have the words diversity, equity and inclusion because it has institutional racism in their policy. You know, it takes us back. And we’ve been fighting so hard,” said Lewis.
“Governor DeSantis is very insensitive as it relates to issues facing people of color in the state of Florida,” Isaial Rumlin, president of the NAACP Jacksonville branch, said. “We’re just not going to take it anymore; we’ve been taking it long enough. Somebody’s going to have to stand up against the governor, and one of the way’s we’ll do that is in the form of a travel advisory, which will have an impact on the economy.”
DeSantis has made cultural issues a cornerstone of his administration, particularly extinguishing what he calls “woke” entities and philosophies centered on issues of discrimination involving race, gender and sexual orientation. Many community leaders have been outspoken about how the governor has systematically alienated and singled out people of color, and individuals in the LGBTQ+ community, adding to already volatile racial tensions throughout each county.
In a brief statement responding to the travel advisory request, Gov. DeSantis seemed to laugh it off and called it a “stunt” and a “joke. ”This is the reason why our country goes through all of these…stupid fights. If you want to waste your time on a stunt, that’s fine. But I’m not wasting mine,” he said.
Ellison said she feels differently. “We want attention on the things that have happened in the past few years – SB90, HNI, the anti-protest amendment to disenfranchise many black and brown people,” Ellison said. “The banning of books such as the Rosa Parks story. The rewriting of history by taking race out of it.”
The NAACP is on the front lines of racial and cultural issues facing all people of color. Founded in 1909, the NAACP is the nation’s largest and oldest civil rights organization. From the ballot box to the classroom, their leaders and members fight for social justice. To get more information about the Fort Lauderdale chapter of the NAACP, visit their website https://naacpftlbroward.com.
