‘We are serious:’ NAACP calls for visitors to avoid traveling to Florida

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — The NAACP of Florida has moved forward with plans calling for out-of-state visitors to avoid traveling to Florida.

This proposal comes in response to certain bills being discussed in Tallahassee that the NAACP says are targeting some minority communities.

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Action News Jax spoke with Isaiah Rumlin, president of NAACP Jacksonville, who said enough is enough.

“This is the only way you can get the attention of those who are in power is when you hit them in the pocketbook,” Rumlin said.

Rumlin said they approved a resolution about this ban to be presented to the national board within the next three to four weeks, and he believes the organization will go forward with it.

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“We will be advocating that people from other parts of the country don’t visit Florida,” Rumlin said.

Rumlin and the NAACP members think this will have an impact on the state because of how much money it sees from visiting travelers and tourists.

“We understand if that happens that would have a vast impact on the economy in the state of Florida,” Rumlin said.

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Rumlin said this plan came about after certain bills aimed at limiting African-American history in schools, targeting voting rights, and cutting advanced studies programs were presented.

Action News Jax asked Florida Governor Ron DeSantis about this today during a press conference in Clay County, he questioned the reasoning behind the plan.

“This is a stunt to try to do that, a pure stunt. And fine, if you want to waste your time on a stunt, that’s fine,” DeSantis said.

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Rumlin gave us his thoughts about the governor’s reaction.

“We are serious, I think once the national board approves a resolution, he will see how serious we are, and what kind of stunt we are,” Rumlin said.

Rumlin said no one is standing up against the Governor and it’s time that someone does.

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