NAACP Calls for Boycott of Florida Universities Over DEI Funding Cuts

The NAACP urges black student-athletes to reconsider attending Florida's public universities in response to the state's elimination of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) initiatives.

The NAACP issued a letter to NCAA President Charlie Baker, advising black student-athletes to avoid Florida's public universities following the state's defunding of DEI programs.
Florida Governor Ron DeSantis celebrated the closure of the University of Florida's chief diversity officer position and the end of all DEI initiatives, calling DEI 'toxic'.
The NAACP's call is a reaction to the 'Stop WOKE Act', a bill that ended state funding for DEI programs and was praised by DeSantis for prioritizing merit over group identification.
Critics argue that the state's actions threaten the advancement of young people and the ability to compete globally, emphasizing the importance of DEI for equitable educational outcomes.
The State University System of Florida and DeSantis' administration dismissed the NAACP's letter as a political stunt, citing Florida's high education rankings and success rates among black students.