The American Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) issued an advisory Saturday recommending against travel to Florida due to the "openly hostile" policies and laws against black and LGBTQ+ people promoted by its governor, Republican Ron DeSantis. He joined other organizations that defend the rights of minorities, from migrants and Latinos to the LGBTQ+ community, which have already recommended staying away from the state, and even, in some cases, boycotting it.
The new notice comes after a series of reports about the fear and uncertainty of some communities in Florida, with migrants or farmers thinking of moving or who have done so because of the laws promoted by the governor, who will soon aspire to the White House.
Among these measures stands out the law known by its detractors as Do not say gay (which prohibits conversations or books about gender and sexuality in classrooms), which also generated the fight between DeSantis and Disney; new restrictions on abortion; and the immigration law that toughens the persecution against undocumented immigrants.
"I'm worried because we don't know where to escape, we don't know where to go because for us as immigrants it's hard," Jonathan Hernandez, a farmworker at a market in Wimauma, Florida, told Noticias Telemundo.
Activists and workers explain that they have begun to organize to show their rejection with protests; On social networks there is a campaign to boycott Florida, which proposes a day without immigrants on June 1 calling "not working or spending a single dollar." "It's time to stand up and support each other, no matter where you're from," reads a Hispanics Tiktok video, with 1.5 million views.
Demonstrators protest inside the Florida State Capitol over the 'Don't Say Gay' law, Monday, March 7, 2022, in Tallahassee, Florida.Wilfredo Lee/AP
Jeremy Redfern, the governor's press secretary, responded to the NAACP's announcement as a publicity stunt, according to USA Today, in line with his reaction to a similar ad a few days ago issued by the League of United Latin American Citizens (LULAC, the largest and oldest Latino civil rights organization in the country). Last month, the LGBTQ civil rights group Equality Florida and the Florida Immigrant Coalition called for moving away from the state in the face of "risks to health, safety and liberty."
Several initiatives against DeSanti's policies have also become trending on social networks such as TikTok, with videos of empty fields and crops spoiled by the alleged lack of workers, for example, and stories of LGBTQ people and people of color who decide to leave the state and explain to their followers how to do it. while others ask residents to sue Florida for "the damages" they suffer under the new regulations.
"Florida devalues and marginalizes"
"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," the NAACP advisory states.
The advocacy group criticized DeSantis' "aggressive attempts to erase black history and restrict diversity, equity and inclusion programs at Florida universities."
De Santis blocked state funding for such content at universities, as well as the teaching of a course on African-American studies in high schools. The Don't Say Gay law, meanwhile, limits discussion of sexuality and gender issues in schools, which is supported by some parents and rejected by others who feel their children are entitled to such training.
"My name is Spencer, they are a non-binary queer person, who has a child with autistic disabilities, who has just fled Florida with his family," says one of the people who have become a trend on Tiktok for leading campaigns against these policies.
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In addition, Florida has passed more restrictions on health access for trans minors. And reproductive health rights are also affected by the new restriction on abortion, at six weeks gestation, approved this year.
They are "racist laws", denounces Ebrard
On a visit to a rural Florida community, Mexican Foreign Minister Marcerlo Ebrard, who aspires to be Mexico's president, showed his support for immigrants and called de Santis' laws "racist." He argued that any Hispanic, because of their appearance, can be affected: "The only way you have to apply the legal provisions is with a kind of racism, because you have to see what people look like."
Noticias Telemundo asked the governor's office if they had any reaction to the foreign minister's visit and has not received a response.
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The new law SB-1718 strengthens legal status checks for workers; invalidates driver's licenses issued by other states; and bans ID cards from these residents.
It will also require hospitals that accept Medicaid to include a citizenship question on forms, which will discourage many immigrants from receiving medical care.
Latino migrants are considering leaving Florida, activists and businessmen say. A fruit seller reported that the fear is visible and changes are already seen with a drop in sales.
"People who do not have permits are leaving out of fear, they are leaving the buildings, they are leaving the jobs, they are leaving everything," said the woman, who preferred not to give her name.
But there are those who are optimistic: "Everything moves here thanks to working people and Latinos... the government is not going to hurt them," Pedro Sifuentes, an agricultural producer, told NBC News.
Others say they do not oppose the changes because they already have residency documents.
"I feel very calm because I have all the documents in order," said a farm worker from Wimauma.
