Scott issues travel advisory for ‘socialists visiting Florida’
Eric Daugherty contributed to this report.
WASHINGTON, D.C. (FLV) – Sen. Rick Scott, R-Fla., issued a formal travel advisory for “socialists visiting the state of Florida” on Monday.
In the advisory posted to Twitter, Scott said that “Florida is openly hostile towards Socialists, Communists, and those that enable them.”
“The state of Florida devalues and marginalizes the contributions of, and the challenges faced by Socialists and others who work in the Biden Administration,” Scott said in his post.
Scott’s statement follows the recent issuance of a travel advisory by the NAACP, which raised concerns about the state’s treatment of African Americans, suggesting that Florida, under the leadership of Gov. Ron DeSantis, has become inhospitable to this community.
“Please be advised that the State of Florida does not value diversity, equity, and inclusion in Florida schools, colleges and universities,” the NAACP advisory stated. “Please be advised that the State of Florida does not welcome the contributions of African Americans and people of color.”
Scott said that his office’s advisory came “in direct response to the Biden Administration attempts to erase capitalism and the system that has brought prosperity to Florida and the entire United States.”
Republican Party of Florida Chairman Christian Ziegler offered to move NAACP Board of Directors Chairman Leon Russell out of the state after the group issued a travel advisory.
Russell is listed as living in Tampa, Florida.
In response to conservatives mocking the chairman, he urged people to remain in the Sunshine State to “fight” and said the NAACP doesn’t want anyone to leave the state.
“He is full of bull—,” Russell said on MSNBC in response to Ziegler offering to pay moving expenses amid the advisory.
“We haven’t told anybody to leave,” Russell continued. “In fact, the NAACP is encouraging folks to stay here and fight.”
“If there was ever a reason to stand your ground, it’s Black people, LGBT community, the immigrant community, women, need to stand our ground in Florida and fight, and understand that that fight is a political fight,” he said.
Russell echoed notions from the NAACP’s travel advisory, which urged “allies” to “join [them] in the battle for the soul of our nation.”
In a press release, NAACP President and CEO Derrick Johnson said, “Under the leadership of Governor DeSantis, the state of Florida has become hostile to Black Americans and in direct conflict with the democratic ideals that our union was founded upon.”
