Considered one of the most diverse bubbles in the United States, South Florida has been notoriously known for welcoming all walks of life over the past few decades.

The National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP), however, issued a travel advisory warning people not to travel to Florida due to Gov. Ron DeSantis’ recently signed legislation banning state funding for diversity, equity and inclusion programs at the state’s public universities.

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The NAACP joined the League of United Latin American Citizens and LGBTQ advocacy groups claiming this legislation is “openly hostile toward African Americans, people of color and LGBTQ+ individuals.”

The warning approved Saturday by the NAACP’s board of directors tells tourists that before they travel to Florida, they must understand that the state of Florida “devalues and marginalizes the contributions of, and the challenges faced by African Americans and other communities of color.”

The SB 266 bill, which will go into effect this upcoming July, argues that courses based on “theories that systemic racism, sexism, oppression and privilege are inherent in the institutions of the United States and were created to maintain social, political, and economic inequities will no longer be funded by taxpaying dollars.”

“It’s our view that when the taxpayers are funding these institutions, that we as Floridians and we as taxpayers have every right to insist that they are following a mission that is consistent with the best interest of our people and our state,” DeSantis stated during a press conference. He continued, “We are going to treat people as individuals. We’re not going to treat people as members of groups.”

“This has basically been used as a veneer to impose an ideological agenda, and that is wrong. And in fact, if you look at the way this has actually been implemented across the country, DEI is better viewed as standing for discrimination, exclusion, indoctrination, and has no place in our public institutions.”

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