The National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) issued a travel advisory for racial minorities and members of the LGBTQ+ community stating that Florida is “openly hostile” towards those groups. However, just days later, Senator Rick Scott (R-FL) issued a travel advisory of his own.
The NAACP issued its statement as a response to recent policy decisions made by the DeSantis Administration. The association mentioned the conservative administration and legislature's moves to deny the AP course for Florida public schools on African American history.
The NAACP stated, "Florida is openly hostile toward African Americans, people of color and LGBTQ+ individuals. Before traveling to Florida, please understand that the state of Florida devalues and marginalizes the contributions of, and the challenges faced by African Americans and other communities of color."
Sen. Scott's rebuttal warned those on the authoritarian left thinking about coming to Florida, stating that “Florida is openly hostile towards socialists, communists, and those that enable them.
Now, the former Florida governor has released a video doubling down on his warning.
“Think twice,” was Sen. Scott’s main message.
I’m warning socialists and communists not to travel to Florida. They are not welcome in the Sunshine State.pic.twitter.com/ZB4RVz6XdK
— Rick Scott (@ScottforFlorida) June 27, 2023
“Let me give you a travel warning: If you’re a socialist, communist, somebody that believes in big government, I would think twice. Think twice if you’re thinking about taking a vacation or moving to Florida. We’re the free state of Florida. We actually don’t believe in socialism,” said the Florida senator.
He would go on to mention that many Sunshine State residents have lived under the tyrannies of authoritarian leadership, saying “It’s not good for anybody.”
“Some people in our state lived under it. We know people lived under socialism; it is not good. It’s not good for anybody. So, if you’re thinking about it, if you’re thinking about coming to Florida and you’re a socialist or a communist, think twice. We like freedom, liberty, capitalism, things like that.”
Moreover, Senator Scott’s Eradicating Narcotic Drugs and Formulating Effective New Tools to Address National Yearly Losses of Life (END FENTANYL) Act was unanimously passed in the Senate. It will head to the House of Representatives in hopes to be put on the President’s desk.
