The latest political stunt against Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis may well have failed in its infancy after a publicly available photo refuted the NAACP’s position that the Sunshine State “is openly hostile toward African Americans.”
Saturday, the NAACP’s Board of Directors endeavored to gin up racial enmity toward America’s Governor in the days leading up to an expected announcement on a highly anticipated bid for the presidency.
The civil rights organization released a formal travel advisory that the board said, “comes in direct response to Governor Ron DeSantis’ aggressive attempts to erase Black history and to restrict diversity, equity, and inclusion programs in Florida schools.”
“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,” the release stated.
Reacting to the announcement, the governor’s press secretary Jeremy Redfern shared some inconvenient points on the NAACP’s narrative, including an image of the board’s vice chair, Karen Boykin-Towns enjoying herself in April 2021.
“Here is your Vice Chair chillin’ in Clearwater, FL,” he wrote.
Here is your Vice Chair chillin’ in Clearwater, FL. pic.twitter.com/12JMAqvxAv
— Jeremy Redfern (@JeremyRedfernFL) May 20, 2023
The release included a statement from NAACP President and CEO Derrick Johnson who said, “Let me be clear — failing to teach an accurate representation of the horrors and inequalities that Black Americans have faced and continue to face is a disservice to students and a dereliction of duty to all.”
“[DeSantis] should know that democracy will prevail because its defenders are prepared to stand up and fight. We’re not backing down, and we encourage our allies to join us in the battle for the soul of our nation,” he added.
As such, the takedown of the advisory that had been proposed by the Florida chapter in March couldn’t end with a single image — Gov. DeSantis reportedly said at the time, “What a joke… yeah, we’ll see how effective that is.”
But will @NAACP tell DIRECTOR Leon W. Russell to leave Florida? He lives in Tampa @ChairmanNAACP -These people are absolute hypocrites AND liars. https://t.co/8OgbvsKIE0 pic.twitter.com/E3GjrLrZ7s
— Erin Elmore, Esq. (@ErinElmore) May 21, 2023
No, as has been the trend throughout DeSantis’ tenure as Florida’s executive, the record boldly contrasted the narrative and Redfern shared the most recent numbers from the state’s tourism industry that saw the most visitors ever for a single quarter at 37.9 million.
The press secretary summed it up in one word: “Cope.”
37.9 million visitors. A record.
Cope. https://t.co/JNEeKq6yLN
— Jeremy Redfern (@JeremyRedfernFL) May 20, 2023
Along with the refutations against claims about Florida’s education system not teaching accurate history, others pointed out the potential harm the NAACP was doing to the community they purportedly serve as the Miami event Urban Beach Week was brought up.
One user suggested, “They must not be in touch with any real people,” with a screen capture of the event scheduled for Memorial Day weekend that touts being “the largest Urban Festival in the world that caters toward the professional Hip Hop Generation from 21 and over.”
The governor’s former press secretary Christina Pushaw merely asked, “Does this mean no Urban Beach Week?”
They must not be in touch with any real people pic.twitter.com/HNrACHkm88
— PhotographicFloridian (@JackLinFLL) May 20, 2023
Does this mean no Urban Beach Week? https://t.co/sPzhVfKIKE
— Christina Pushaw 🐊 🇺🇸 (@ChristinaPushaw) May 21, 2023
In case those concise points weren’t enough to hammer home the political posturing of the NAACP, others joined in the takedown that included one more shot from Redfern highlighting the depths to which the organization had sunk.
🤣all my black and brown neighbors and friends love Florida. I think you want to cause chaos with your lies. Direct conflict with democrat ideology which means we floridians treat all Americans like family. We don't see color. https://t.co/TVHAURToZy
— Maggiemay (@Maggiem65468100) May 20, 2023
When I saw this tweet I asked my mother (a Democrat) does she feel discriminated against in Florida she said NO. In fact due to his policies my Dem mom wants to vote for him to be president.
— KRYSTAL in FL (@MsBradsher) May 20, 2023
I scrolled through the responses looking for info that would help me understand why you made this claim. If a response supporting your position is there, I must have missed it among the overwhelming number of responses that refute or mock you.
— Indivisualist (@RIndivisualist) May 20, 2023
https://t.co/utIiJtFAEP pic.twitter.com/tOmszroAc9
— Jeremy Redfern (@JeremyRedfernFL) May 20, 2023
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Native of Brooklyn, NY, Kevin Haggerty is a graduate of Hunter College where he studied Cultural Anthropology and Geography. An avid reader and truth seeker, he currently resides in Texas with his wife and their dog and, when he isn't researching current events and their impacts, you'll find him spending time with friends and family or working on his next novel.
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