Black Florida business owner slams NAACP for issuing ‘travel advice’
A black Florida businessman has ridiculed the NAACP’s “travel advisory” issued against his state last week, accusing the organization of trying to raise funds by jumping on the “BLM gravy train.”
The NAACP warned May 20 that Florida under its Republican governor and presidential nominee Ron DeSantis is “openly hostile to African Americans.”
The backlash was immediate, with many pointing out that senior NAACP leaders, including its chairman, live in the state.
On Friday, financier Mike Hill, who is also part of an initiative to advance black Americans called Project 21, said the NAACP warning was absurd and a brazen publicity stunt.
“I would advise black people who saw this notice not to come to Florida and just ignore it,” said Hill, owner of an independent insurance and financial services agency in Pensacola.
hill said Fox News: “I think they see the tens of millions of dollars that Black Lives Matter has been able to raise from the leftist agenda, and that’s why they want to be part of that sauce.”
“I think it was more of a publicity stunt.” It was more of a fundraising effort than anything else.”
Mike Hill, owner of an insurance and finance firm in Pensacola, Fla., said he believed NAACP advice would backfire and show the organization was “irrelevant.”
Florida Department of Health press secretary Nikki Whiting responded to the NAACP’s recommendation by reminding the organization that Joseph Ladapo, the state’s surgeon general, is black
The NAACP issued this travel advisory, warning African Americans against traveling to Florida, which they say is “hostile.”
Florida Republicans are leading the backlash against the warning, which was issued despite the fact that the civil rights group’s leader lives there and board members frequent its beaches on vacation.
Leon W. Russell, 73, spent his adult life in Florida after being raised in Virginia.
Today he lives in a two bedroom house in north Tampa.
Karen B. Towns, NAACP co-chair and board member, also enjoys vacationing in Clearwater.
Despite their ties to the Sun State, they joined the organization and cautioned other African Americans against traveling there.
However, Russell joined calls for African Americans to boycott the state.
Christian Ziegler, leader of the Florida Republican Party, is now offering to help Russell move to another state.
“The CHAIRMAN of the NAACP lives in Tampa, FLORIDA!” True leadership means being willing to do what you ask others to do. It’s time to move and move.
“If you think our state is doing so badly, the Florida GOP will help with the relocation expenses.”
Leon Russell, the chairman of the NAACP, lives in Tampa, Florida
Karen B. Towns, NAACP Co-Chair and Board Member, enjoys her vacation in Clearwater
Leon W. Russell, 73, has lived his entire adult life in Florida after being raised in Virginia. He now lives in a two bedroom house in north Tampa
Hill said Russell and his team’s position was ridiculous and singled out Russell for particular disgrace.
“The irony that he’s spent most of his adult life here is actually the fact that with thousands of people moving to Florida every day for the opportunity here – and he’d still make a statement saying, ‘Don’t come here because of “the racist attitude that exists in Florida,” Hill said.
And he said he believed NAACP advice would backfire and show the organization was “irrelevant.”
“I don’t think it will deter anyone from coming to Florida,” he said.
“If anything, I think this will backfire on the NAACP and show how irrelevant it has become as an organization.”
The travel advisory alleges that DeSantis is attempting to “erase” black history by banning CRT from schools.
DeSantis said it was ridiculous and called it a “political stunt” on Wednesday night.
“To say Florida is unsafe is a total farce,” he told Elon Musk at the launch of his campaign.