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State Senator Shevrin Jones backs the NAACP's Florida travel advisory

Democratic Florida Sen. Shevrin Jones is pictured outside the Senate chambers in Tallahassee, Fla., Wednesday, April 26, 2023.
Brendan Farrington/AP
/
AP
Democratic Florida Sen. Shevrin Jones is pictured outside the Senate chambers in Tallahassee, Fla., Wednesday, April 26, 2023. Jones and other LGBTQ+ lawmakers around the country feel like they are fighting for their existence in conservative states where anti-LGBTQ+ legislation is moving forward. (AP Photo/Brendan Farrington)

Governor Ron DeSantis' policies on diversity, race, and identity are causing some civil rights groups to advise travelers to stay clear of Florida.

The National Association for the Advancement of Colored People says it was left with no choice but to issue a travel advisory.

Senator Shevrin Jones (D-Miami Dade) is the latest state lawmaker to back the move.

"When you see all these different civil rights organizations whether for African Americans, immigrants, or for Latinos; they're not just doing this for no reason," said Jones. "They're doing this because of the freedoms and the democracy of marginalized people that has been under attack here in this state."

On Saturday, the nation's largest black advocacy group issued its warning, following similar moves from Equality Florida, the League of United Latin American Citizens, and the Florida Immigrant Coalition. Tourism is the state's biggest money maker.

Adrian Andrews is a multimedia journalist with WFSU Public Media. He is a Gadsden County native and a first-generation college graduate from Florida A&M University. Adrian is also a military veteran, ending his career as a Florida Army National Guard Non-Comissioned Officer.

Adrian has experience in print writing, digital content creation, documentary, and film production. He has spent the last four years on the staff of several award-winning publications such as The Famuan, Gadsden County News Corp, and Cumulus Media before joining the WFSU news team.