A conservative organization issued an advisory for Americans not to travel to two Democratic Party-controlled states. The American Principles Project recommended against travel to California and Minnesota due to “dangerous attempts by their governments aimed at overriding parental rights.”
The organization said that the two states “have recently passed laws which legal experts argue could result in even out-of-state parents losing custody of their children.”
The organization was specifically referencing laws that allow state family courts the ability to hold children arriving in the states for gender change treatments.
The news came after the NAACP and the Human Rights Campaign issued advisories against travel to Florida.
Larry Elder, GOP presidential candidate slams the @NAACP for its travel advisory for Florida—‘ The NAACP doesn't seem too concerned about crime in Chicago:’ (Fox News Video)
⁰https://t.co/gT1bljjA7Rhttps://t.co/Wa8ZRvPftY #NAACP#Florida #CrimeCrisis— Larry Elder (@larryelder) May 23, 2023
The NAACP criticized the policies of Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis (R), saying that his administration “has engaged in an all-out attack on Black Americans.” The organization also described the Sunshine State as “openly hostile toward African Americans, people of color, and LGBTQ+ individuals.”
DeSantis called an earlier travel warning a “joke.”
The group cited DeSantis’ signatures on laws that allow for greater Second Amendment access, a 6-week abortion ban, and restrictions on diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) programs at public colleges.
The Human Rights Campaign issued its own advisory for LGBT people, stating that visitors to the state “must join us in their vocal opposition to these dangerous policies.” The group called on those who chose not to visit or move to the state to “make clear why they’re not headed to Florida.”
The announcements were criticized by Sen. Rick Scott (R-FL), who said that “any attempts to spread the oppression and poverty that socialism always brings will be rebuffed by the people of Florida.”
The senator said that all who visit the state should be aware that any efforts to import socialist ideas to the state “will fail and be met with laughter and mockery.”
Despite the conditions described by the two groups, Florida saw heavy traffic for Memorial Day weekend. Furthermore, the Sunshine State passed its all-time tourism record, with almost 140 million visiting the state in 2022.
